Friday, December 25, 2015

25 December 2015 - his birth and ours


Light dawns for the just;
and gladness for the upright of heart.

The star guides us to him. But even the star is just a dim reflection of him who is the light that shines in the darkness. A chorus of angels lights up the sky. But even they must go away to heaven so that none may distract from

With the shepherds we follow the message of the angel to the stable and to the manger where our savior rests. With them we see "the kindness and generous love of God our savior" has appeared to us in the flesh. He comes as an infant. Like with all children but even more so we realize that we there is nothing we do to deserve this. It is all mercy.

This is not a merely sentimental image. This unmerited birth means that we can all be born anew to a living hope (cf. 1 Peter 3:9). Our own baptism is meaningful because it unites us to this birth. It unites us to the innocence of this child. It unites us to his obedience to his Father. It unites us to the protective love of his mother.

He saved us through the bath of rebirth
and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
whom he richly poured out on us
through Jesus Christ our savior,
so that we might be justified by his grace
and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

This baby means that we are not forsaken. We are not forgotten. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in him. He is the yes to all of God's promises (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:2). He is the reward and the recompense for which we long.

Like Mary, we should keep all these things and reflect on them in our heart. Like the shepherds we should return from Christmas glorifying and praising God for all we see and hear. They show us how to be transformed by Christmas and what that transformation looks like.

The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.

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