Learning Jesus' Way

Our class focused on the immediate impact of the birth of Jesus on the world around him.  In Luke's narrative, we were aware of the isolation of the young family, sheltered in stable, the baby placed in the feed trough.  There was no place for them to stay, no tending for the birth.  They had come an impossibly long journey in the ninth month of Mary's pregnancy, because of the demands of the Roman Empire.  Though Bethlehem was the ancestral home of Joseph's family, and he likely had kin there, no one welcomed them, perhaps because of the scandal of the pregnancy.  The poverty and fragility of their situation was something we felt deeply.    The first expressions of community and solidarity came from the shepherds working the night shift in the local fields.  These were people of low social status but integral to the unfolding story of salvation coming to earth.  The shepherds go forth as, literally, the first apostles!  Below is an artistic representation, Caravaggio's

 Above are a number of artisitc representations of the baby Jesus, his family, and the scene of his birth.  Which ones draw your attention or resonate with you?

And Gabriel came to Mary and said, "Greetings, favored one!  The Lord is with you..  But she was much perplexed by his words and wondered what sort of greeting this might be.  But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And  now you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus."                                                                                                        Luke 1:28-31 But just when Joseph had resolved to dismiss Mary quietly, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he save his people from their sins."   --Matthew 1:20-21 Our professors for the evening:  Led by Liz and Mason, we examined the birth narratives of Jesus in detail.  Liz took on Matthew 1:18-25,