Sunday, December 25: 2022, Christmas Day
Luke 2:1-14(15-20)
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see– I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
God comes to us in unexpected ways, not in grandeur or fanfare, but simply, quietly and humbly. If we have despaired of God ever showing up in our lives, we can take heart by the utterly fantastic way God chose to come to Earth –as a baby born in a stable. The challenge is that Jesus’ birth sometimes feels like it’s no longer relevant to us as it happened so long ago. What difference does it make that God became human?
God becoming human in the person of Jesus means that God completely and fully understands how hard it is, sometimes, to be alive and make our way in this world. If we have ever felt alone or not understood, we can remind ourselves that God took the first step (and it’s a huge one!) by seeking to identify with all the challenges of what it means to be human. Simply put, God wants to be with us – God longs to be close to us, and God shows us this every year at Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
In my work as a hospital chaplain, I often pray with patients that they know that God is near to them and as close to them as the air that they breathe. I pray like this because of the Incarnation and my belief that God longs to show us we are not alone. Believing to the depths of our core that Jesus is always present to us, no matter what we are going through, makes a difference in our lives. It helps us to trust that there is meaning and purpose to our experiences, and that they are part of a larger reality of God’s plans of goodness for us.
Knowing that God is with us and God understands us can give us hope for the future no matter our circumstances. This knowledge is part of the tremendous gift of Christmas as we celebrate “Emmanuel” – God is with us.