No Kataluma in the Insula

(for better understanding please read previous post)

We are pretty much all aware that prearranged marriages were a custom in Jewish culture when Jesus walked the earth. What's interesting is the engagement period. After arrangements were made between fathers, both families got together where the groom would present his bride to be a cup of wine. She could then accept the cup (and the young man's offer) or refuse it. If she were to accept it the young man would then go back to his fathers house and begin building a room for he and his bride. Obviously if a man had many son's and this was done with each marriage a home (called an Insula*) could get quite large.

What's interesting is that the young man would not know when the room was finished. Only his father could tell him when the room (pronounced kataluma) was ready. When the father gave his approval, the groom would go and retrieve his bride and the party (reception) would begin directly after the bride and groom consummated the marriage. People would literally wait outside the "room" until the couple surfaced. Then they would party for days.

Why do I bring this up? Because it adds to the plausibility of my last post. Jewish homes could be quite large with many many (kataluma's) available. And so again Joseph and Mary show up in Bethlehem and are told that there is not (kataluma) available to them. I'm not really trying to prove my point from the previous post, so much as show that it is feasible.

Now reread this verse:

"My fathers house has plenty of room; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And i f I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back to take you to be with me that you may also be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

You gotta love how much meaning is added to the text when we understand the language. This is wedding language all over the place.

*The Insula pictured is a bit more "Romanesque" than that of traditional Jewish homes for sure, but it's what I had to work with.

No room in the Inn?

It's advent season, so naturally I've been focusing some energy into entering into the birth story of Jesus. I've always been troubled by one element of the birth story. Perhaps what troubles me most is what is not told in these stories. For one instance, the arrival of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. Luke's story has Mary and Joseph arriving in the waining hours of the day unable to find room in the "inn".

Our modern experiences remind of times driving from location to location looking for a hotel that doesn't have a NO VACANCY sign lit. Hoping that should there be room big enough for all us. With this in mind we are happy that Mary and Joseph find a cave and give birth in shelter. There's a sense of relief and while the Son of God didn't get into the Marriot perhaps we can romanticize the idea of God being born in humility with animals at his feet.

But what if there was something more sinister afoot in those waining hours that day in Bethlehem? What drove Mary and Joseph to look for a "hotel" in Joseph's home town anyway? After all wasn't he a decendant of King David? And if there was something more sinister, what would it mean for us?

It is very likely that Joseph and Mary never looked for anything like a hotel. In Luke's text the word "Inn" in greek is the word (pronounced kataluma) which means "room" or living quarters. Plus at the time Bethlehem was a small, relatively poor town. It is very unlikely to have even had an "inn" anyways. Travelers would have pushed on to Jerusalem which was much larger and had facilities for them. No, I think what we actually have here is Joseph showing up to a relatives house. Which gets me asking why they are told there there is no "room"?

How is it that amoung a people know for their hospitality is a man (of royal linage) and his wife (who's about to give birth) show up at a family members house and they're told "there's no room". The Jew's at this time were a people known to give room and board to strangers and travelers. They are commanded by their God to care for the orphan, widow, and the foreigner. Plus that ancient near east has never had the ideals of autonomy that the West does. Plus the residents of Bethlehem would have known that their relatives were coming back to register. This would have been a time of celebration and reunion. So again, how is it that Joseph and his wife are told "there is no room".

Could it be that Joseph's family was so cold to them because there was a rejection of the child Mary carried? Was it the questionable conception that warrented such treatment? Maybe for Joseph's family they just couldn't accept that God had done something wonderful in Mary.

We see later in the life of Jesus that those who knew Jesus certainly questioned his legitamacy as Joseph's son. Look at this exchange in Mark chapter six. Jesus has just finished preaching in the temple and the people have been amazed at his teaching. Here's what they say:

Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.

In a paternalistic society like the Jews of this time, a son would not be refered to as his mother's child even if (as in this case) the father was dead. Why did they take offense at him. They thought his teaching was wonderful... oh wait, could it have been that whole illegitamate child thing again? And why, if they were in awe of his teaching just moments before, would they have taken such offense at him?

No, I think in Luke 2 we have something other than NO VACANCY signs. I think that Jesus may have entered this world much like he lived in it and died for it... REJECTED. Sure, perhaps I can romanticize God being humble and allowing himself born in stable with donkeys, chickens and sheep. But I can't associate with that. That God would come at all would be a radical act of humility. But I can identify with rejection. It has happened to me more than once. And Jesus understands. He's been there. He was "born under" this sign. He lived with rejection and died in the face of it. This to me is the miracle of Christmas.

Knowing

To know much and to taste nothing - of what use is that?
- Bonaventure

I love this quote. In the modern world in which I live, I've noticed that many are very good at knowing a lot. It's easy, what with books, newspapers, email, and the internet it is really easy to know a lot about a lot. My family would tell you that when I was young I used to scarf my food. I would eat so fast often my Dad would offer me a shovel. I have since learned to savor my food; to taste it, to enjoy its flavor with a cup of wine. I heard a statistic on FOX news Friday that we spend 5 months a year just taking in information; reading, listening to music, watching television, etc. These days I'm wondering how to taste any of it.

Forgiving God

These days I'm learning how to forgive God. When I was younger I heard all these stories about how God loves me and how he forgives me for my "shortcomings". There's no doubt about it, I have shortcomings. And I'm very grateful for grace. But there comes a time in any relationship where one reflects on both parties in the relationship and looks for balance.

You see, what I'm trying to understand now is how the "God" of the Old Testament even remotely looks like the "Abba" Jesus talks about in the New. Lately I've been stuck in this story of Achan. You can read his story in Joshua. Joshua and the Israelites are just over the river Jordan. They've conqured Jericho and are now feeling out the rest of the local terrain. So Joshua sends spies to the city of Ai. The spies report back that Joshua need only send a couple thousand men as the city is not numerous in inhabitants. So Joshua sends in his men and the men get routed and slaughtered.

I have this robe in my bathroom. It's a classical father's robe. It's plaid and it's made of flannel. It has perfect pockets for important things like the remote control and tissue and that annoying toy I step on too many times in one morning. But my robe is a majical robe. My robe divides my days. If I'm wearing my robe in the morning that means I'm not working. It means I am home all morning; no adjenda, no open planner, no lists. As cliche as my robe is, when I wear it I am special. I am king of my home and slave to no one (except the queen). I like the days that I get to wear my robe.

When Joshua gets news of his army's annihilation he tears his robe and falls down before God. God tells him that someone has taken items consecrated to other gods in their plunder of Jericho and that this man all that belongs to him, must burn before God will allow victory over the city of Ai. Joshua finds this man and asks him what he took. His answer: Some gold and silver and a beautiul robe. Achan was thinking ahead. He knew that one day he would settle in this land. He knew that a beautiful robe would help divide his days too. He knew that sporting a beautiful robe would certainly make him feel special. In retribution they took the Achan, his wife, his children, all thier belongings and the sacred items and they stoned them. Then they burned them "as the lord instructed them."

In the New Testament there's this woman who's caught in the act of adultery. Jesus is hanging out with his chums and the religious leaders bring her before Jesus in an effort to him. They demand of Jesus to know what the jewish law says about such a woman. Jesus knew that the law required them to stone her immediately. Jesus is calm. He waits. Then in an act of beautiful grace he says that law requires her to be stoned, but those of you who are blameless may throw the first stone. Slowing they drop their rocks and walk away. Jesus then asks who is left to condemn you. She says "none". And Jesus says, THEN NEITHER DO I CONDEMN YOU. Go on with you life and stop sinning.

I'm forgiving God these days. I say this not because I believe I sit above God in some manner. Nothing could be further from the truth. I'm forgiving God in order to accept by faith whatever form balance is even remotely possible in these to portrayals of who God is. I'm letting go of the idea that God should make sense. I'm forgiving God for the difficulties that arise when these kinds of stories come up. These days, I'm forgiving God.