Joy to the World

Each Sunday in Advent, a candle on the advent wreath is lit in our homes and during our worship services. The lighting of the candle can be accompanied by readings and/or singing. One of the popular tunes for singing is "A Candle is Burning", words by Sandra Dean and sung to the tune of "Away in a Manger". Here is the verse for Advent 3.

A candle is burning, a candle of JOY,

A candle to welcome brave Mary's new boy

Our hearts fill with wonder and eyes light and glow

As joy brightens winter like sunshine on snow

The word that jumps out of this verse to me this year, as never before, is the word 'brave'.

Quoting from the book "The First Christmas' by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan:

"We raise immediately one major problem in that Matthean narrative. It is the question of Joseph’s presumption that Mary has committed adultery against his exclusive marital rights as already established by their formal “engagement” (1:18), which makes him “her husband Joseph” (1:19). Why does Matthew even raise the issue of adultery? Did Mary not tell Joseph what had happened? Did Joseph not believe her? Why did Joseph presume adultery? How did he expect to solve it quietly within the publicity of an arranged small-village marriage? And, since intercourse was at least tolerated for an “engaged” couple, why did he expect anyone to believe his accusation? ”

And so when I think of Mary at this time of year, I think of Matthew's scenario and of how scared and confused Mary must have been. Unlike today's society there were no baby showers, no classes to prepare first time mothers for what was happening to their bodies, no modern medical facilities to aid in the birth. Yes, she was brave!

I well remember my stay in the maternity wing in a local hospital in the mid-1960s, with a skeleton staff working between Christmas and New Years. The nurse looked at me, and said, 'You teenage girls have no business getting pregnant and then coming in here expecting us to look after you!' In her defense she was probably tired out and wanting to be home with her family over the holidays. For me, 23 years old and married for 4 years, it hurt but wasn't devastating. However it has stayed with me all these years, coming to mind each Christmas as we hear the story of this other pregnant, teenage unmarried mother. And I wonder just how much the world has actually changed?

The birth of a child should be an occasion for JOY not only to the parents, but also in the extended family. And often it is. But also there are those time when it is anything but; when because of poverty, lack of food, suitable housing, that joy is muted. Each parent wants the best for their child, wants them to thrive and become the best that they can be. When the physical or emotional needs of a child aren't met, that child becomes at-risk. How many of these at-risk children there are out there in the world right now? What is being done for them as we remember the birth of this one baby long ago?

What can you do to welcome one of these 'at-risk babies' this festive season - and by so doing bring joy into that mother's life this Christmas?

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