Consider the cast of characters in your nativity set. Ponder those gathered around the one born King of the Jews. 

Mary is there, of course. We meet her in Luke 1:26-56. She is a virgin, engaged to Joseph from King David’s royal line of descendants. She was favored by God. She was “deeply troubled” and “wondered what kind of greeting this could be.” 

The angel’s announcement surprised her and stimulated one question and one response of perfect poise and deep humility: “I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word,” (verse 38). 

Mary was simple and plain, reverently responsive to what God said.

Joseph is there. Strong, silent Joseph standing, attentive, responsive, lost in awe and wonder. We meet him in Matthew 1:18-25. We see him in action there and  2:13-15, and again in 19-23. We catch a glimpse of him in Luke 2:16 as the shepherds show up with a rather astounding, and overly loud, message. 

Joseph is there throughout the rest of Luke 2. He is fully present and completely silent. He who by today’s standards had so much to say did not feel compelled to say anything. Joseph was a man of silent obedience. 

Joseph was simple and plain, reverently responsive to what God said.

The shepherds are there in the nativity set. How many little boys received their first acting credits as shepherds clothed in Dad’s bathrobe? As silent as Joseph was, the shepherds were noisy. Read it for yourself in Luke 2:8-20. 

The shepherds were simple and plain, reverently responsive to what God said.

The others gathered around the baby Jesus in most nativity sets include the wise men, the magi. We meet them in Matthew 2:1-12. They really do not belong in the nativity set since they arrived sometime later. However, they fit in the gathering because of the nature of their pilgrimage. 

These wise men brought extravagant gifts. They understood something of the nature of this little one. They understood the ultimate gift was the baby. This toddler came uniquely from the Giver of All Good Things. 

The wise men were simple and plain, reverently responsive to what God said.

There are a couple of weeks between now and Christmas Eve. This is a good time to follow the examples of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men. In these days when we will be blasted by loud music, noisy sales announcements, and irritable crowds in every store, let us resolve to become simple and plain, reverently responsive to what God says.