Luke used two times the words “swaddling cloth” in chapter two...
“7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
The secret behind the swaddling cloth is not revealed in the Bible. It is a tradition that newborn babies are wrapped in a soft white cloth. Some NT scholars say, it may be a Lenin cloth. It was used by rich and poor as well. We know that it is common in many countries that newborn babies are wrapped in an old or soft white cloth, especially in the tropical countries. Nevertheless it is not the same cloth, which used to cover dead bodies.
I do not know, whether the swaddling cloth has something to do with the awaited messiah or the human Jesus. Perhaps, Luke tries to attract his audience by using pictorial speech to emphasize the importance of Mary and the birth of Jesus. I am not sure how long was Mary hiding this piece of cloth or how she even got it, at the first place. Did she get it from her mother or from other women? who knew the secret? Or did Joseph get it for her? So many mysteries lie behind this swaddling cloth. Why is it a symbol for the Sheperds? Why did the angels mention about this piece of cloth?
The mystery of Mary and the mystery of the swaddling cloth are secretes secrets kept. The gospel writers (MEN) kept Mary as a mystical figure. In contrast, Mary knew everything and kept everything in her heart. She prepared herself to unwrap the secret. Even though she had to trod a tough road, she packed a swaddling cloth in her small package.
As women, we are forced to practice our freedom in secret spaces. The patriarchal society became dictators and owners of our bodies by commanding, “you women, don’t speak in public,” “don’t do things openly,” don’t wear sexy dresses,” so on and so forth. Often women’s stories are wrapped in swaddling cloths, it is white (“pure”) and warm (comfortable). Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloth. I appreciate Mary’s courageous decision to give birth and no longer keep the secret within her self. After that she wrapped the Baby and the Baby was lying in a manger. The swaddling cloth is not “pure-white” anymore; it is dirty with her blood and tears. The secret is uncovered! She liberated herself, and she wrapped her Son, who came to liberate others. The holy dirt revealed the secret!
Prayer
O God the giver of life, we are thankful for your love and just-sight. Open our eyes to the subjugation around us and help us stand against any power that tries to rule over us. Liberate us from the dirty sturctures of the society and embrace us in swaddling cloth, in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Author: Rev. Joy Devakani Hoppe
About the Author: Rev. Joy is an ordained minister, currently pastoring at the Nordkirche, Germany.
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