Hello my dear friends.
To begin today's meditation,
I invite you to be still.
To be still,
I simply mean to close your eyes and get comfortable.
Notice that your mind naturally becomes more quiet and your body organically becomes more relaxed in doing so.
We live busy lives.
We live noisy lives,
Especially at this time of year,
Ironically enough.
And so it's important to take a moment here and there to pause,
To be present,
To be still.
Be still.
Adopt an attitude of gratitude and non-judgment.
Remember that meditation is not about what we are and are not getting accomplished.
Meditation is a time to just be.
So just be without judgment.
And as we enter this sacred space,
I invite you to embrace a heart and mindset of peace and loving-kindness.
It's around 4 BCE.
Your feet are sore from a long day of travel.
Two long days of travel,
In fact.
These bumpy,
Rocky roads you're traversing have not helped the situation.
You are accompanying Joseph and Mary on their journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
You and your cousin Joseph are both required to register your families in Bethlehem,
Where your family line is from,
Because of a census decreed by the Roman Emperor.
Joseph tells you,
We're about halfway there now.
The weather on this journey thus far has been hot and dry,
Even for this time of year.
You can't even imagine how difficult this journey must be for Mary,
Who is visibly pregnant and must be close to giving birth at this point.
You wonder why your cousin Joseph has decided to stay with Mary,
Who has clearly been unfaithful.
You recall Joseph said something about a dream he had,
In which he was visited by an angel,
Telling him to go through with the wedding,
And that the child she is carrying is from God.
At any rate,
You're too tired to think about all that right now,
As you sit to finally take a break before retiring for the night.
The temporary camp has been set up for the evening,
And you'll all need your rest as you have another long day of travel again tomorrow.
Your face is burning hot from a long day of physical activity,
And from the sun beating down on you all day.
You look at Mary,
Then at Joseph.
They both seem to exude the same thing,
Joy.
You are perplexed at their posture of joy at this time.
Joy.
Joy.
Despite the difficulty of this journey,
Despite the hardships their pregnancy has brought to family dynamics,
Despite any strain it must have put on their relationship,
Despite living under a Roman Empire that cares so little about their well-being that it would demand this of them,
Despite being scorched by the sun,
Being parched and tired,
Despite all that,
They are full of joy.
In spite of everything,
They are full of joy.
The realization dawns on you that they have it way harder than you,
In almost every aspect of this journey.
And yet,
They have joy.
This realization does not come as an admonishment of yourself,
It comes as admiration for Mary and Joseph.
You can feel their joy.
They see the joy in the journey.
They see the joy in the journey.
They have joy as they await their new baby.
There is joy in the journey.
There's joy in the journey.
There is joy as we await the birth of this child.
A child Mary and Joseph claim will bring salvation to our people being ruled by Empire.
This baby they claim will bring us salvation.
Our people being ruled and oppressed by Empire.
Mary and Joseph claim this baby will bring freedom to our people.
There is joy as we await salvation.
Joy as we await freedom.
Joy in knowing that God is good.
Joy in knowing that God saves.
There is joy in the waiting.
There is joy in the journey.
There is joy in the waiting.
There is joy in the journey.
Thank you for sharing this tender,
Sacred moment with me today.
My dear friends,
May grace and peace,
Light and love,
And joy be with you.
