Citizen journalism at its best

Matthew and Luke are among the greatest citizen journalists.

Their printed accounts may not have earned the two disciples Pulitzer prizes, but the two books have saved souls.

It was during a choir presentation Sunday night that I was reminded of the role they served in retelling the facts surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ. Guided by the hand of God, their recounting of the birth of the babe in the manger gets a lot of attention this time of year.

But as I was reminded during First Baptist Church of Houma’s celebration of “Mary Did You Know,” the story deserves a follow-up. As the production noted, so many questions still linger about that night and the years that followed.

I’m always struck by Mary’s courage … hearing from an angel that the Son of God would be born unto her. As a young virgin, where did she muster the strength to continue when word began to spread that she, an unwed mother, was pregnant? Shock and public ridicule had to be the talk of the day. But she held steadfast to the promise that the child she carried was a blessing straight from God.

And what about Joseph? To learn that his soon-to-be bride was expecting a child and knowing it would make headlines had to be daunting in that day. Surely his faith was tested in the 9 months leading up to the birth.

Did he wonder what it would be like to parent Jesus? Did he understand the child would be his salvation? Had he or Mary known Jesus would die on the cross, would they have questioned the task?

And when Christ rose from the grave, how did they feel? There are so many questions.

The innkeeper is actually never mentioned in the Bible but is often depicted as a villain in the retelling of the story.

The assumption is the shrewd businessman offered rooms to the highest bidders and, when facing Joseph and Mary at the inn’s door, turned them away, sending them to the lowly barnyard instead.

Could he, in fact, have offered the couple the only safe place available? Was he among the believers that night? Was his life forever changed by what he witnessed in the manger?

And what about those shepherds? What stories they must have told as witnesses first to the appearance of an angel and then the Christ child.

Then there are questions to pose to the magi. Those three kings defied Hared, taking another route home to ensure Jesus’ safety. But in the moment they embarked on their journey to Bethlehem, did they have any idea that the baby would save the world? That more than 2000 years later, believers would continue to tell the story of Jesus’ birth?

And what about you? What questions would you ask the people who were at the scene the night the Lamb of God was born? Who would you want to sit and chat with? The parents? The angels? The innkeeper? The shepherds? The magi? Or maybe the babe himself.

Journalists, by nature, are a curious bunch. We sometimes ask ridiculous or obvious questions to get to the heart of the story. As citizen journalists, Matthew and Luke have forever captured the facts surrounding that glorious night. What a blessing it will someday be to learn the rest of the story.

Until then, from my family to yours, have a merry and blessed Christmas.