The Shepherds Never Met the Wise Men

Quote of the day:
"Most of us are much more acquainted with losing than we are with winning. Winning is great, but it isn't funny."
--Charles Schulz

The Christmas stories are the best-known part of Christianity. I say “stories” because there are two of them. One is in Matthew, the other in Luke.

Neither Mark nor John have stories about the birth of Jesus. If the birth stories are removed, and if John loses its theological prologue, all four gospels would start in exactly the same way, with John the Baptist.

Though the Matthew and Luke birth stories are separate, distinct and different from each other, they are usually mingled together at this time of year, and we are accustomed to hearing them this way.

One story talks about shepherds, the other about the magi (wise men). But we don’t like to think of the shepherds without the wise men. Or vice-versa.

One story has Jesus born in a manger, the other has him born in a house. What? Everyone knows Jesus was born in a stable and slept in a manger. But Matthew says nothing about a stable, and has the magi visiting Jesus in a house.

One story mentions the star, the other does not. One story has Mary and Joseph going to Bethlehem for a census. In the other, they’re already there.

The vast majority of biblical scholars agree that there are significant issues about the historicity of the birth narratives. It’s likely that they are the least historical part of the gospels.

It makes sense, when you think about it. Who was there to witness the birth and then write about it later?

The intention of of the birth stories is not to tell history. That’s just not the point.

The point is to announce something equally ineffable and joyous.