3

NATIVITY

“And the word became flesh
and dwelt among us.”
Christmas is a wonderful feast.

The birth of a baby is always Good News
of great joy!

God the Silent, speaks.
God the Invisible, becomes visible.
God the Darkness, gives light.
The unexpected, the unbelievable, happens.
God empties himself to become one of us.

“Have no fear
I bring you tidings of great joy
to be shared with all the people.”

“This day in David’s city,
a savior has been born to you,
the Messiah and Lord.”

“O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.”

There was no room in the inn.
There was no room in the world.
There was no room in our hearts,
yet he came.

A light went on
in the dark house of earth
and the darkness
will never be able to put it out.

A star appears on the wall of night.
“Silent night,
holy night,
all is calm,
all is bright.”

Awake shepherds!
Awake wise men!
Awake, O Jerusalem.
Your hope is here;
your savior has appeared.
A flower has sprung
from Jesse’s stock
and a star has risen from Jacob.

But I warn you now in a dream
that he is not what you are expecting.
God never does that.
God is never what you expect him to be.
God has emptied himself,
becoming a baby.
The hand of God has baby fingers.

This baby is God
who is beyond our imagination,
beyond our brains.

God becoming human,
becoming a baby is
ridiculous.
Who could believe it?

Surprise! The Christmas story
features shepherds and kings,
the rich and the poor.

Go to the stable!

You’ll find Mary and Joseph,
a couple from Nazareth,
80 miles from home,
in the little town of Bethlehem,
House of Bread,
Breadbox of the World.

God feeds us with the finest of wheat.
Peace on Earth,
Good will to all.

Gifts?
What kind of a Christmas gift,
a birthday gift,
can I bring him?
What does he want of me?
I don’t know.
I’m empty too.
I’ll come to him
like a child in the silent night empty,
but ready to be filled
with the word,
with the Light.
There he is, an infant,
wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger.
See the light.
See the halo of light, enlightenment, delight,
surrounding him.
Jesus is Emmanuel - God with us.
His tiny fingers reach out for Mary,
for Joseph,
for the ox and the ass,
for you and for me,
for the whole of creation.
He’s trying to grab the whole of creation.
His arms opening wider and wider
to embrace the world,
to embrace the Father.
Come Lord Jesus
Come.