The birth stories of Jesus are fraught with unreality.
They are stories told with an agenda,
that may include some truth,
if we can find it.
However they are not historical nor strictly factual,
nor do the two stories align, in any real way.
They are stories written as introductions
to the tale they are about to tell.
Matthew tells of a new Moses.
Luke of humility in divinity.
In Matthew's story Mary is hardly mentioned.
the tale moves swiftly to the visitation of Wise Men
and their interactions with King Herod, the local ruler.
The gifts of the Wise Men are chosen to display
the attributes of royalty and divinity.
The Moses theme then takes over.
In Luke, the themes of Peace and Joy dominate.
They appear in song and even in angelic proclamation.
They are the contrast to the threat of warfare;
of peace through domination.
or
