Christmas Spider Saves the Day!

I was reading something this past week online and ran across something about the legend of the Christmas spider.  Not knowing what this was, I decided to do some more investigation, which is the constant learner in me.  Ask my husband and he will tell you any time I know don’t something the first thing I do is head to Google.  Anyway, I searched for the legend of the Christmas spider, and what I found out is there are multiple versions of the story.  I thought I would share the one I particularly liked, since it concerns Christmas and the birth of Jesus.

Legend has it that when Joseph was warned in a dream to flee from King Herod and the massacre which he intended to inflict upon the children of Bethlehem, several animals from the manger decided to accompany the Holy Family on their journey.  Each of the animals was determined to protect baby Jesus, and each felt sure their particular talents would prove invaluable in that task.  There was a spider who wished to join the journey also, yet none of the other animals felt the spider would be helpful.  After all, she was only an insect and had no keen ears, sharp teeth, no strong bones or claws whatsoever.  However, the spider persistently pleaded until finally the other animals agreed she could join them, provided she did not get in the way.

Unfortunately, as the journey unfolded, all of the other supposedly brave animals were either frightened off or distracted.  They ended up returning home or embarking on some more appealing adventure.   With Herod’s troops on the march, and with the Holy Family growing more and more tired, Joseph and Mary had little choice but to try and hide.   Finding a small and inconspicuous cave, they huddled inside, seeking shelter and rest, with only the donkey and the spider remaining with them. Holding Jesus in her arms, Mary gently rocked him to sleep and, for a while, it appeared everything would be fine.   The only immediate problem was the chill in the air, so trying to be helpful in some small way, the spider carefully wove a web over the opening of the cave to try to keep the baby warm.

The spider had just finished her weaving when suddenly voices were heard outside the cave. The soldiers had caught up with the Holy Family and they were diligently searching the entire area.  When they came to the cave where the Holy Family was hidden, both Mary and Joseph held their breath, certain they would be found.  Yet the soldiers passed by the cave.  One soldier said it was a waste of time to search it, since anyone who had entered the cave would have broken the spider’s web over the opening.  Thus, it was this seemingly insignificant spider who saved the day.  Legend goes on to say this is why we hang tinsel on our Christmas tree; to remind us of the silver strands of the web which the little spider wove, and to remind us that no act of kindness, act of courage, or act through which peace with justice is sought is ever wasted.

The legend also reminds me that someone once suggested we need to keep not only Christ in Christmas but also to keep Herod in Christmas, because Herod, like Pharaoh before him, worshipped the love of power (enforced by violence) rather than the power of love. And in turn Herod reminds us we do not live in an ideal world but one where we often face both the threat and the destructive reality of violence.   For the followers of Jesus to be alive in God—to be alive in the adventure the Christ child calls us to—is to side with all who are vulnerable, even as the Christ child was vulnerable.  It is to live in defiance of those who see the vulnerable as expendable, to refuse to bow to any and every Herod and to any and every ruthless regime. It is instead to kneel before the Prince of Peace in the manger and then to go out to weave whatever webs we can as we continue to commit ourselves to acting justly, loving tenderly, and walking humbly with God.

In Christ’s love and peace,

Pastor Leslie