'While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in any inn. '
In a new-born child, we encounter humanity at its most fragile, yet also at its most captivating. This tiny bundle of life is completely reliant upon those around for its every need; its only means of communication a piercing, helpless cry - yet an infant child can mesmerise everyone in the room, it can irresistibly draw each one's attention and capture their love and fascination.
And through this most natural and instinctive of human reactions, God invites us to be drawn to an even deeper and more profound reality. In the ancient and familiar story of the child of Bethlehem, we are invited to gaze at the sight of a new-born, cradled in straw, and allow the scene to whisper again the words of Psalm 47 - "know that I am God".
Throughout the ages, prophets and monarchs have encountered God in their temples and palaces. Faces have been hidden in fear; rulers and nobles have fallen to their knees in homage. God's stilling presence has been declared in the face of national crises; it has stirred the hearts of activists and caused wars to cease. God deserves every respect and honour we can afford, yet God chose to become one of us in the guise of a child, born in chaos and crisis - forgotten, unnoticed yet eternally profound.
And in the midst of our own crises, chaos and struggles for power, we are invited to turn our attention again to this makeshift cradle, to believe that God's most powerful act of human salvation is made known through his becoming this fragile helpless child. God is not simply the orchestrator of these events; God is their purpose and outcome.
Today, as we celebrate Christmas, we have learned to give this scene the status and honour it deserves. We will sing familiar carols, conveying its truths in cherished melodies. And even though many may choose to ignore it, every feast and celebration, every light and decoration, every card, every gift can play its part in echoing this message of hope and salvation across our busy and complicated lives.
But even if there were no celebrations; no gifts to share and receive, when our lights and decorations are eclipsed by the anxieties and despair of events that prevail, God is no less able to be found and God is no less able to be known. For it is in the most fragile of human circumstances that this season invites us to discover God with us.
Emmanuel God, may the humility and power of your nativity inspire my hope and faith in every place and situation. AMEN
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