2 In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. 2 This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. 3 Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. 4 Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. 5 He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom.
Reflection
As I reflect once again on the birth of Jesus, according to the Gospel of Luke, I think about how the birth of a child (especially the first baby) is not so different today. I am not surprised that Mary seems to have given birth to her baby shortly after arriving in Bethlehem. Seems like no surprise that the long journey hurried the birth process along. A similar thing happened to me when our first child was born. We were doing a deep cleaning of the home we were moving into and my water broke. But that’s another story.
The first thing mentioned by Luke is the Political requirement: every person was to be enrolled, was to be counted for tax purposes. According to the footnote in my Study Bible the census determines who pays taxes, much like today. And according to my Bible Dictionary the first census, the numbering of the secular tribes of Israel, took place shortly after their arrival at Mt. Sinai. In other words, a census was taken and taxes were collected, for as long as anyone could remember; a long, long time. I suspect that Joseph and Mary knew they would be paying more taxes after the birth of their baby and one more mouth to feed.
The second thing mentioned is the Travel confusion: according to the author of Luke’s gospel, Joseph and his family were to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, his family’s city of origin. One account of this journey on foot estimates at least 20 miles per day for about 100 miles. Ouch! I can’t even imagine 10 miles a day in a CAR! Can you imagine doing that when you’re pregnant! Matthew’s gospel account of the birth of Jesus does not mention the extra-long trip from Nazareth. And according to Luke, Joseph’s reservation in Bethlehem must have been overbooked or given away because they arrived late so they had to sleep with animals! The two accounts agree on one thing: thankfully they arrived in Bethlehem for the birth. However, then Matthew mentions that the family was visited by the Wise Men and then evacuated to Egypt to avoid becoming political prisoners of Herod, while Luke mentions visitation by the shepherds and angels.
In a Bible study group recently one of the members reminded us how important it is to read the Bible from the perspective of the people “at the margins.” This means reading the Bible from the perspective of the poor, the oppressed, LGBTQ+, the differently abled, and the marginalized. We need to open our eyes to ALL the people who been forgotten, overlooked, enslaved or otherwise ignored by the traditional way of cherry-picking scriptural texts.
by Kathleen Stolz
For Pondering and Prayer
As I reflect on the birth of my own three children some memories are clearer than others. I suspect that the various accounts of Jesus’ Birth and every other Bible Story are like memories of everyone: they vary greatly depending on who is recalling the story.
I invite you to read both the Matthew version (1:18-2:15) and the version from Luke (2:1-20) of the Birth of Jesus and ponder the differences. Which story is more attractive to the upper middle class and the wealthy in our country? And which resonates more with the laborers and the immigrants?
Prayer:
O Little Town of Bethlehem (verse 3)
How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.
Amen.
