THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD

 As this day moves on, it slowly, almost imperceptibly, shifts its focus.  We open our gifts.  We enjoy out feast.  We visit with family.  But, quietly, the understanding sets in that the day and its revels will not – cannot – last forever.  And, we perceive that the baby will not remain a newborn in a manger indefinitely.  The child must grow and must do what he came to do.  Disciples must accompany him on his way.  We prepare for a journey.  We may not see the destination clearly at this point.  But it is essential that we prepare ourselves for the trip.

The church helps us by offering a different kind of reading for the latter part of this day.  Up ‘til now we have concerned ourselves with mangers and full-up inns, with shepherds and angels, with a star, with Wise Men bearing gold, frankincense and myrrh.  But, the last Gospel Reading for the day is not from the Infancy Narratives.  It is from John 1.  I excerpt it here:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it… And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth… The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

Do not get me wrong.  I aim to wring every last little bit of holiday revelry out of this season.  But we well know that there is more to these days than fun.  This is our staging area.  This is where we receive our marching orders.  This is where our work begins.

Merry Christmas!