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The Timelessness of the Christmas Story
If you’ve lived just about anywhere in the world, the feeling in the air around late December, is truly a magical one. In the United States, it often means cold Winter, with warm, home-cooked food, and time spent with family and friends. In most cases, it also means enough electricity used on beautiful lights and decorations, to give the sun a run for its money. However, for many, there’s something even deeper in all of it; something that pulls us to an awareness of the kindness and compassion of an all-loving Creator, who over two thousand years ago, gave us the gift of Love and Forgiveness, by coming here in the flesh, to walk amongst us.
As a child, I understood a little of what it all meant. But as I contemplate the Birth of our Savior today in 2014, I cannot fail to admit how much more I’ve learned, with the passing of each of my 35 years on this planet. Today, I not only think about the spiritual ramifications of Christ’s arrival, but the conditions and environment around His arrival, and what it must have been like, from the perspective of all the individuals that were there.
First, I think of the three wise men, who were so devoted to the study of the astronomy and changes in the heavens, that they noticed (even among millions of visible stars) a single celestial body that simply “stood out from the rest.” They were so touched by it that they followed the direction of its movement to Bethlehem, where God in the form of an infant, would be arriving soon. They would bring lovely gifts, unique to their home and culture, to be presented to the little One. Scripture even recalls the three standing before Herod, and being extremely careful what they said to him about it all (and as we know, there was a very good reason for it). So with my three friends from the East, I see a devotion and a willingness to follow the “call” into new territory, bringing the best that they had to offer as individuals, all while choosing the time and method of communications rather meticulously. We three kings of Orient are; Bearing gifts we traverse afar! Then, there is Herod, whom I grew to dislike fairly early on as a child. It was in those younger years, I wondered constantly; what could cause an individual to feel this way about a single, innocent baby? Today, I have to say I understand much more. It was and is, what the infant Jesus meant. Herod was a jealous, insecure, materialistic ruler, in a time where loyalties to religious and political structures, were maintained only by force and by fear. He was threatened, and terrified by the concept of a new “King,” and the ideology of “change.” Herod was willing to do some pretty evil things to maintain and secure his rule. While I don’t see myself or the rest of humanity as that kind of tyrant, I wonder sometimes just how far we are willing to go, to keep things the way “we” want them to be, even at the expense of allowing much needed life and rejuvenation to enter the world, and directly, to enter our own lives. Give us thy lamp to light the way, unto the land of perfect day. O, beautiful Star of Bethlehem shine on! We could go on and on: the shepherds tend to their humble duties, the angels that were probably more excited than we’ll ever know, the inn that couldn’t make room for one more, the young parents that would have to live in complete obedience and faith. There is so much here, that one would need a book to write about it all. But since I don’t have a book, I’m going to finish this out, contemplating the Nativity scene itself. To even attempt grasping the sheer magnificence of the Son of God, would be a lifetime journey (and even then, I know I’ll likely fall short of scratching the surface). But here is this, Eternal, all-Powerful, all-Loving, all-Knowing, Bringer of Hope, Light, and Love…to a world that is so often very dark, broken, selfish, hateful, and evil. The very Breath of Christ, even while He was a babe, contained the Wisdom of the Ages, through which all bondage, addictions, wars, starvation, pain, disease and suffering, could (and can) be brought to an end. To human standards, that would be considered “royalty” in any sense of the word (and indeed it is). But the “Way” this little Messiah arrived, was not royal at all (at least not to our standards). In fact, I realize just how spoiled I am when I consider His Birth.
His bed, was made out of a feeding trough, packed with straw. I’ve read the writings of scholars that believe it was a rainy night in Bethlehem. So there is this scene, and I can only try to imagine it. It’s pouring down rain; shepherds from around the city have come with their flocks and stood near (after angels had danced about the heavens telling them that the Great Shepherd had arrived). Three intellectuals that likely knew very little about the Jewish faith or its messianic prophecies, were on their knees offering their unique and precious gifts. Goats, horses, donkeys, cattle and various other animals, stood in their stalls peering at the commotion. Perhaps after some time, Joseph held Mary close to him, even after watching her give birth to a child that was not his, Whom she now held in her arms. So, my brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of God; let us ask ourselves how many times we have been in any of those many roles, and then let us be reminded of why we’ve all come to this place. This is not an Episcopal story, or even a “Christian” story. This is the Arrival of Life and Love, for all the world, and we are all at the manger, to look upon Him, and learn. What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping? This, THIS is Christ the King! “Merry Christmas, and all Praise, Power, and Glory be to the Lamb of God, forever!”
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