This phrase, an echo of the words of the prophet Isaiah who says “See, I am doing a new thing” (Is:43:19) come to life in the infancy narratives of the synoptic gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke.
In these gospel narratives as we prepare for the birth of the promised Saviour we meet John the Baptist, born to elderly couple, Elizabeth and Zechariah who had not expected to be blessed with a child as Elizabeth was barren. Change to the traditional ways of the time did not end there – when this child is born he is to be given the name John, not the name of his father as was the custom. This break with the expected saw much discussion and chat among family, friends and neighbours of the family.
In the infancy narrative of Luke we meet the Angel Gabriel who comes to bring news of another birth – the birth of Emmanuel to a young woman named Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph. Despite her hesitation and questioning of Gabriel, Mary says Yes to the invitation to become the mother of Jesus. Joseph was surprised by the news from Mary, and he made his own plans to divorce her quietly and to go their separate ways – but, again God steps in to his dream and tells Joseph to take Mary home as his wife. Being an honourable God-fearing man Joseph does as the angel has asked him and takes Mary to his home. Though we are not told what the local peoples reaction was, one can imagine that similar gossip spread among them of this anticipated birth. On the night of his birth the first visitors are not family and friends but shepherds who are tending their sheep on hills outside the town – who hear the angels sing and are invited to go to Bethlehem to see the new born with his parents in the stable of the inn-keeper in the town.
Matthew tells of the Magi from the east following the star to visit the new king – they stop on the way expecting the new king to be born in the palace, but again tradition, expectation and custom are changed. The new king is not born in a palace but in a stable in the town of Bethlehem. It is there the star comes to rest and they find the new born with Mary and Joseph and offer him their gifts.
And so the story of the Nativity is all about the new things God is doing in the world of the time – traditions and customs are left behind, change is the area. Perhaps we too are invited to look around us this Christmas season – to look for the new, for the change to our expectations as we welcome Emmanuel, God-with-us.
Karen OSU