I’m flipping through cable Christmas movies and have found the worst. Problem is that you don’t know until you’ve used it as wallpaper (background for what I really should be doing). It was a nativity and pieces were missing. The angel looked like a very nice man dressed in white but where were the accompanying other angels singing, Luke 2:13, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!'”. The Shepherds are then discussing whether or not the one angel was an angel. The other insertion is that no one will give Mary and Joseph a room at the inn because she is carrying another man’s child. Not true but what made people think that? The largest challenge for me was Joseph who was a large tall German-looking fellow who is never visited by an angel (or was off screen and did not believe him). Early on Mary’s mother mentions that she wish Joseph was smarter. Why? How does that fit the story? Joseph broods and will not look Mary in the eye. She walks and carries a pack to Bethlehem so this poor woman, who is about to deliver the Christ Child, is treated with distain as if she has been unfaithful. The only characters who improve on the usual are the Magi who are shown to be religious persons plus scientists. What a turn-up. It all seems to land in the right spot with the baby Jesus being worshiped by all who are around the manger. This story teller is not interested in the majesty of the event but wants us to wonder.
I don’t wonder. This is the biggest event of all time. There was an angel visitation to Joseph, although we can’t know the timing. Matt 1:20b, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Than Matt 1:24b, “Then Joseph,…did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus. God used some long-range planning to prepare the world. Each player had disclosure. The prophets spoke. The angels and Magi delivered. Mary delivered. Star of wonder, star of night. Star of royal beauty bright.
