Meditations In the Christmas Story – Taxing Times – Tempus Taxare

Merry Christmas Dear Reader,

All the world is being taxed.  This is the prime mover from a human perspective.  Imagine the magnitude of the migration.  Any man who was not in the city of his birth had to return there to register. 

This is only possible because the Romans have made travel relatively safer in the world.  It is doable because of the PAX Romana.  It impacts our story because the man Joseph is already in the midst of the story.  Before he can arrive in Bethlehem part of the story plays out in Nazareth.

Joseph is engaged to Mary.  She confesses that she is expecting a child.  She has never been with a man but Joseph does not believe this.  He does not want her killed for being a pregnant single woman.  He does not want to be part of the scandal either. 

This is the first place in our story where angels intervene.  Mary is told by an angel that she will birth the Messiah.  Joseph is told by an angel that Mary is telling the truth.  Instructions are given for him to follow through with the marriage. 

His faith is surly taxed.  Then the requirement to journey to Bethlehem comes.  Mary and Joseph must journey even though she is near her deliver date.  Their journey of faith and their journey under the law are what make my journey possible.  They travel to Bethlehem.  They live in taxing times indeed.

Mary’s Song – Petra

Hold that blanket closer Mary dear

All the world waits with you for your day

But for now the wind is cold and it's drear

And Bethlehem's still so far away

Do you remember the way you felt back then?

Joy and wonder filled your soul and when

The angel slipped away

You knew your life would never be the same

And now you're travelling, travelling on a road to Bethlehem

Wandering thoughts fly away

If you knew the road that lay ahead of Him

Would you break down and cry?

Your child is born to die

Feel that hand of strength upon your own

A husband's love that guides along the way

And as his understanding has grown,

His hopes too are centered on that day

For do you remember the way he looked back then,

Pain and sorrow filled his eyes until when

The angel came to say

The Savior's birth was meant to be this way

Think back on that promise you received

For him in whom the prophets long believed

Now belongs to you, you've been chosen too

But He's the One Who's gonna shine

We call His name Jesus, Immanuel

He'll save His people from sin and hell

And of His kingdom there will be no end

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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