Clergy from left, Deacon Amy Schmuck, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill and The Rev. Lynn Finnegan. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
By The Rev. Lynn M. Finnegan
Associate Rector
The Episcopal Church of the Holy Faith
“Safe travels.” “Text when you get there.” These are the text messages my family sends whenever one of us is traveling, either on a plane or a long car ride. The message is literal: we are hoping and praying that the travel goes smoothly, with no cancelled flights or road construction or accidents.
Compare this to the sentiment those of you who have walked the Camino de Santiago, a famous pilgrimage route, are familiar with: Buen Camino. “Buen Camino” is a wish and a prayer that travels go safely, but it also means more. It is a prayer that the person you are greeting has a good journey. Going on a journey implies more than moving from Point A to Point B. It implies a richness, a deepness, a significance to the trip that can be physical, yes, but is also often spiritual. Journeys take time and deliberation. Journeys are not intended to be rushed. Journeys involve the opportunity to ponder and reflect.
Our biblical story of the birth of Christ involves both travel and a journey. As recorded in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph, had to travel from their hometown of Nazareth to the town of Bethlehem for a census. The census required that families return to their city of origin to be counted, and Bethlehem was where Joseph had his roots. I am sure this was NOT welcome news to Mary, nine months pregnant! It is estimated traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem, by foot (there may or may not have been a donkey involved; scripture doesn’t say), for a woman in her third trimester would have taken about a week. I envision Mary’s mom anxiously packing up peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (or the first century Palestinian equivalent) and telling them, “Safe travels.”
Mary and Joseph, however, were also on a journey. Both of them received unexpected and downright frightening news that turned their lives upside down. Neither had any idea what lie ahead. Both heard God calling them to take a risk, to trust, to have faith. And both accepted. Luke’s gospel notes that following the birth of Jesus and the visit by the shepherds that Mary “pondered all these things in her heart.” I am confident that on that laborious trip to Bethlehem both Mary and Joseph were doing some pondering. Not only pondering about how their lives would change with an infant in the house, as all expectant parents do, but reflecting on God’s love in their lives.
This time of year, there’s a lot of traveling going on. Maybe you are among those who will pack up the car or jump on a plane to be with family and friends during the holidays. I wish you safe travels. Whether you are traveling or staying in place, Christmas is also a good time for pondering the journey you are on. How will the celebration of the birth of Jesus be part of your journey? Merry Christmas! May the light of Christ accompany you on your travels AND your journey.
This post was originally published on here
