Christmas Again

Luke 2:1-14

Reading the Christmas story out of season brings it to life in fascinating ways.

First, there is the world as Mary and Joseph encountered it--a place ruled by a nearly omnipotent government that could tell people to rise from where they were and go where Rome wanted them, fully expecting complete compliance. So often we feel like insignificant pawns in the world. What power does any of us actually hold? The IRS summons us, and we have to go. We read of government surveillance and wonder if anything is private any more. Jury duty comes and we cannot really miss it. Taxes must be paid--just try missing those due dates. We begin to feel helpless and overwrought. We begin to feel there is no room for us. We are tempted to vote Libertarian!

Second, the dismissal at the inn finds us in both roles--overburdened host and neglected guest. Nearly all of us complain that there is not enough of us to go around--everybody wants something. We have no more to give. We get short, irritated, and annoyed. Most of us have felt that cold shoulder shoving us away, too. We have felt the special suffering of being told there just isn't time to deal with us. That hurts.

Third, the stable is ironic. No one chooses to be with the animals, but it was Edenic. The Peaceable Kingdom was there among the beasts. A friend of mine laughed, "I love to take my dog on long walks. He listens to all my whining without complaint!" There is acceptance and welcome out there among the animals. But, yes, it is a stable, a place not fit for human habitation. Why is it that we cannot create space for each other? Why do we shove others aside and out? What happens to simple compassion under stress? Where does it go?

Fourth, when God enters the scene, God does nothing expected. God is. God is free. God seeks open hearts and minds, meeting them in whomever they reside, discounting all human designations of importance, holiness, and sanctity. God tells shepherds the good news of great joy. Well, it was for ALL people. God knows what we church folk so often do--we keep good news to ourselves, setting all sorts of parameters on others before sharing it. God knows what happens when powerful people get good news--they seek to make it profitable. They share it--for a price. So, God bypasses all "authorities" and goes straight to the audience.

Fifth, what is the good news? That God meets us in one of us as one with us. Jesus is one of us. He starts as a baby, dependent on mom and dad to get him to maturity. He will be hungry, tired, sad, happy, hopeful, weary, wondering, fast, slow, smart, funny, and all else that makes us who we are. But he does so as one with us--God takes in all that we are and makes it God's own. That brings ineffable grace into every moment. That brings creative power into every context. That means all is hope. That IS good news!

Sixth, the shepherds believe it. That is faith. They have more than enough reasons not to believe a word of it. They have more than enough experience of being dismissed, ignored, and shunned for being who they were. They have their own lives, their host of problems, worries, frets, and fears. Yet, they believe. They leave everything to be with God. Do we?

Finally, Mary takes it all in. "Ponder" is such a wonderful word. It means so much more than just thinking about stuff. It means thinking deeply enough to find the wonder in each moment. It leads to the affirmation that God is good and grace abounds. So ponder this story--delve into it. Let it stun you anew. It really is good news of great joy.