'"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labour bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.'
The words of the prophet Micah had echoed their defiant hope through generations of God's people. Perhaps one day they might yet become true, and the birthplace of Israel's greatest king would once again yield a ruler of even greater esteem. But for those who trudged their way to this ancient town, summoned to be registered by a Gentile invader, such ideas must have remained a distant dream.
And today as we make ready, we can imagine again those streams of oppressed citizens filling its streets and packing out its inns and boarding houses. We can watch them gather in pitiful ignorance of the fact that somewhere in the crowd, at best unnoticed, and perhaps deliberately excluded, a young couple carried the nation and the world's Messiah to the place of his birth.
As they made a difficult and demanding journey, salvation's dawn drew nearer. As they struggled to find even a floor to sleep on, this dawn drew ever closer. As soldiers bullied them into line and bureaucrats added them to the tally, God's very self, remained hidden in the womb.
And today our world will make ready. Crowds will rush for last minute bargains; the inns will be packed and celebrations in full swing. And no doubt many conversations will turn to the issues that remain unresolved and perplexing - the arguments, debates, ulterior motives and political manoeuvrings. And we cannot fail to be part of that reality, just as Mary and Joseph found themselves caught up in events that were not of their choice or making.
But we will not be contained by the circumstances that surround us. We will allow these ancient words of hope and salvation to define the people we are. We truly believe that from this little town of Bethlehem humanity's Saviour has indeed come, and when the events that perplex us in the here and now are long since passed - eternity's Saviour will remain.
And so we make ready, but do so in hope that is sure and certain. We make ready knowing that these are but earthly celebrations, and that one day this Saviour will come again. We make ready not to hide away from the realities of this age, but to grasp in their midst, realities of far greater consequence. For salvation has come and as we await its consumation, we will celebrate its dawn.
God of all eternity, we seek and celebrate your coming with a joy that no earthly circumstance can ever quench. AMEN
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