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Educator's Forum >
Theological Briefs > The Birth of Jesus Infancy
Narrative
The Birth of Jesus Infancy Narrative
The Gospel of Luke 1:5-2:40
"Within this
textual unit, angels are constantly appearing, and there is a real theopahny
coming through for everyone (Mary, Elizabeth, Zechariah, the shepherds,
Anna the prophets). In fact, Luke features more angels than any of the
other evangelists. After these appearances, there are usually marvelous
songs of praise and thanksgiving. "
"The nativity
scene is usually presented as a stable. A more likely structure, however,
would be a Palestinian house, a building large enough for extended families.
At least that is what the Greek work, kataluma, implies. This structure
has a stairway going up from the door leading to a loft. The loft houses
the family living quarters, and underneath the loft, also directly fronting
the door, would be the stable for the animals. Not only were the animals
safe from thieves, but they would keep the house warm. May and Joseph
could have gone to this area (families were very large and extended) below
the loft in order to get some privacy. Thus, Mary "laid him in a
manger, because there was no place for them in the "loft" (kataluma)".
Mary and Joseph simply went downstairs. "
"The concept
of swaddling clothes is very important in Judaism. The people would keep
them throughout life, and it would be the first thing wrapped around the
body at death. This is tradition that foreshadows death. In the fifteenth
century it was thought that Jesus’ swaddling clothes were Mary’s
veil and that they were placed around his face at death."
"Palestinian
women traditionally wear a carefully woven, colorful "girdle"
around their waists during pregnancy. This part of their dress would then
be used for the swaddling clothes when the conditions warranted it. Customs
suggest that this was the practice in Jewish circles two-thousand years
ago."
"The shepherds in ancient Palestine as well as today are predominantly
women, though adolescent boys are frequently seen. We should not assume
that they are all men. "
"There
could be something evocative of Easter, perhaps the presence of an Easter
plant or something just budding (spring time) alongside the baby’
manger. This connects the birth with the passion, death and resurrection."
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