On December 24, there are celebrations of all kinds in
Christian churches around the world. From the Church of the Nativity in
Bethlehem itself to tiny congregations of only a few people, the birth of Jesus
is celebrated with the words from Luke. “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands
of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the
inn.”
Over the past 3 weeks, we’ve journeyed with Mary and Joseph
from Nazareth, along the Jordan River Valley to Bethlehem. It has been a time
to look at what we bring to the journey and what we might be better off leaving
behind. The road of life is never as smooth as we might wish. In fact, it is
often more like a labyrinth with twists and turns rather than a straight path.
Last week, we paused to be with Mary and Joseph as they
arrived in the bustle of Bethlehem and looked for a place to stay. Now, we come
to the manger and sit in awe of God’s gift of Love. As Ann Voskamp wrote on
Dec. 18 “Christ doesn’t reveal the outcome of what we face, but He reveals to us His
Face. This is the gift of Christmas that flickers in the pitch black…Advent
means that we meet whatever comes to us — with this brazen belief that it is
Love that Comes Down…[Do we prepare for Christmas] by readying the heart to receive
the gift of every moment — no matter what the moment unexpectedly holds — as a
gift of His love?...No matter the barrenness you feel, you can always have as
much Jesus as you want.”
We’ve journeyed with Mary and Joseph and maybe considered
our life’s labyrinth this Advent. The truth we believe and live is “the Word became human and made his home
among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his
glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son. (John 1:14 New Living
Translation)
Now we come to the manger to welcome the Holy Child. What is
your response to the ‘love come down at Christmas’? What do you bring to the
manger?
As Christina Rossetti wrote in her famous poem My Gift:
What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part,--
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part,--
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.
A new series starts in 2018. See you then.
