December24‐25,2015
ChristmasEve–ChristmasDay
Isaiah9:1‐6 Titus2:11‐14 Luke2:1‐14
‘InTHOSEdaysadecreewentoutfromCaesarAugustusthatthewholeworldshouldbeenrolled.’
AndsothescenewassetfortheFIRSTholyfamilytotravelfromNazarethtoBethleheminorderfor
the‘infantwrappedinswaddlingclothes’tobeborn.
InTHESEdays,peopleareanguishingwithpotentialterror,diremedicaldiagnosis’,Syrianrefugees,
familial discord, paying the mortgage, getting the kids into college, racial inequalities, social
stratification,domesticviolence,politicalrancoralongwithahostofassortedotherconcerns,troubles
andpains.ThusthesceneissetfortheholyfamiliesofTODAYtogivebirthyetagaintothepersonwe
havecometoknowsimplyasJESUS.
BeingtherenewalofGod’spledgetoneverabandonus,Jesusisnotonlytheculminationofprophetic
oracles and the conclusion of God’s ‘revelation’ of himself to all humanity, he is, put most simply,
HOPEincarnate.WithinthepersonofJesuswereceivethecommitmentofGodtoremainbyourside
asweconfrontalltheissueswhichthreatenoursanity,sapourstrengthanddiminishourcapacityto
envisionaworldBETTERthantheoneinwhichwedwell.
WithinJesusisthereminderthatGodseesmoreGOODinusthanweourselveswouldclaimordare
admit.WithinJesusisGod’scontinualpromisetonourishuswiththegracenecessaryforustoriseto
thedignityinwhichhecallsushissonsanddaughters.ThroughJesuswehavethecapacitytoshedthe
guilt of grievous mistakes, false paths followed and darkness’ embraced. Ennobled through his flesh
andbloodgivenusasfood,wearestrengthenedtohealthestricken,unbindthecaptive,giveshelterto
thestranger,clothethenaked,feedthehungryandliftupthepowerless.
Sodifferent,yetoneandthesame,thepudgyarmsofthe‘infantwrappedinswaddlingclothes’stretch
out toward us, not so much to be held…as to enfold US within the same embrace as his grown‐up
hands nailed to the Cross have become an eternal consolation for all pinioned by suffering and
rejection.Thedivineimaginationoffersusadiversityofimagesthroughwhichourheartscanbe
comfortedandassurancegiventhatwedonottravelalonethepathwaysoflife.
Anymore than the Cross of Good Friday eliminates whatever pain, confusion or struggles we may
individuallyexperienceaswetraversetheyearscomprisingourlife,the‘infantwrappedinswaddling
clothes’doesnotpromiseablissfulexistenceforwewhogreethisbirth.Rather,weareremindedthat
our God is not ignorant nor dismissive of our lives; as the ‘wonder counselor’ he guides us to see
beyond our immediate circumstances and offers us an embrace from either the arms of an infant
newly‐born or the arms of a man affixed to a Cross…but arms never closed in condemnation but
alwaysopeninwelcome.
Inthemidstofallthefamilialcelebrationsabouttounfoldandsharedwiththoseyoucherish:enjoy
thebrightlights,thefestive food andspiriteddrinks,singthenecessary songsbothsacredandsilly,
unwrapthegiftswithenthusiasmanddelight…BUTtakespecialnoteoftheembracesandhugsyou
offer and share. As you greet, kiss and press your cheeks tight against one another, as your arms
enfold and hold one another close, even if for an instant,…let your heart feel the embrace of the
‘infant wrapped in swaddling clothes’ with his outstretched arms promising to be with you ‐ in
yourjoy–yourstruggles–yourcelebrations–yoursadness–yourlaughter–yourLIFE.
MayyoubeblessedwithaMerryChristmas…filledwithmanyembraces!