Not quite a native Ripley Countian - she attended only her last year of high school in Doniphan though she taught in the R-1 system for 32 years - Teresa (Pearson) Lee delights in surprising readers and herself with anecdotal observations of life in general. Maybe you can blame her St.Louis roots for a quirky humor and some slightly-askewed opinions, but never doubt she writes from the heart.

Christmas and the Faithful

Posted Tuesday, December 24, 2019, at 11:00 AM

Nativity Scene at Heritage Park in Doniphan

This Christmas season, as I read and reread the account of the birth of Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, I am in awe of the faith exhibited by all the individuals involved. One - Zachariah - did question the how of it all given the age of his wife Elizabeth, who would later give birth to John. I don't see it as disbelief exactly, reading about it all these years and translations later. Gabriel, however, interpreted the curiosity as doubt and promptly took the priest's voice away until his wife Elizabeth gave birth to John, the one who would make the world ready to receive the Messiah.

Perhaps it was Zachariah's role as priest that prompted Gabriel to react so quickly with such a consequence. That job had some important tasks and perhaps implies that he would have more knowledge and understanding of the ways of God. Mary, a girl from Nazareth, questioned Gabriel, too, asking about the how of it all. She received comfort and an explanation along with a heads-up about her cousin Elizabeth's role, as well as a reminder that with God all is possible. She accepted what she was told.

As did her future husband Joseph. An angel appeared to him in a dream and explained the goings-on. I wonder if it was Gabriel? Joseph did as instructed and we have the beloved story in Luke 2. The shepherds had an angelic encounter, too, which frightened them at first, but they listened and believed, hurrying to see the baby Jesus after their encounter.

How do God's angels get through to us these days? Just a minute, Gabriel, I have to check with Siri or Google, to see if you are for real. Would he chastise me or comfort me and offer me the explanations I crave for everything? I do believe there are angels, real heavenly ones sent by God, but I believe, too, we are highly distracted and jaded and might dismiss the unusual all too easily.

I strive for faith like a mustard seed, that is planted and grows. I pray for the faith of the shepherds."And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them." Luke 2:20