Advent Thoughts, #16

Not to be a curmudgeon today, but I want to bellyache a little bit about typical Christmas myths.  By that I mean depictions, song lyrics, plot points that just don't get it right.

Pictures (like postage stamps) show Joseph leading a donkey with Mary astride it, in a remote desert.  A little research would show us the road would have been well traveled; people didn't travel by themselves in isolated places (a great way to get killed and robbed), and lots of people were traveling at this time, according to the gospel account.

The Bible does not say that Mary gave birth as soon as they got to Bethlehem.  It doesn't say "as soon as she arrived she gave birth" but "while they were in Bethlehem she gave birth."

The idea of Joseph delivering the baby is bizarre.  No Jewish man would have touched a bloody baby and women's discharge.  She had a midwife, for Pete's sake.

Of course, the Magi were not there until later (when they were living in a house).  Some say two years old, but that makes no sense either, because they fled to Egypt.

"The Little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes."  I don't think so.  That line comes from a time when crying was seen as sinful, or applies it.  Babies cry.

I have to agree that "The Little Drummer Boy" is an annoying song with little doctrinal meaning.

OK, I got that out of the way.  Thankfully, none of the above is needed to love, celebrate, honor, enjoy the birth of Christ.

Our church has phenomenal music.  Last night we had a concert of twelve pianists on seven pianos!  Amazing.  The we all lit our candles and sang Silent Night, our tradition.  I feel complete.

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