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 Of course, I reassured her that God lives inside
of her own heart, so God is closer than she even imagined. Although
those who are reading this are likely not small children, we all
tend to think of God as “out there” and not inside of our own
hearts. And that, is what I believe Christmas teaches us.
The birth of Jesus, was an actual physical event. Jesus was a baby
born in humble estate, to parents who forgot to make reservations at
the Bethlehem Inn for the census. Well, they didn’t have Travelocity
back then, so I’m guessing it was first come, first serve and
depended on who you knew in the city.
And Joseph was with Mary, an expecting woman who traveled slow, and
of course, he didn’t want to make a spectacle of themselves. . .so
they end up in the barn.
A very physical story. We can even smell the hay and the manure. We
can imagine the animals warmth and noises. Some of us cringe at the
thought of giving birth in hay and blankets. We hope Mary had a
midwife present to help her with the birth.
We celebrate Jesus' birth in so many ways in our culture. Some of
those ways bring us back to the physical state of affairs. . .creches’s,
children’s pageants, church programs, etc.. We who are Christian
believe in celebrating the “reason for the season”. . .the actual
birth of Jesus the Christ.
So, this year, as we are thinking of the physical birth, I would
like to challenge us to think of the birth that longs to emerge in
our own souls. Can we find a new way for Christ to be born into our
hearts and into our lives?
Christ is born into our hearts when we look at
people who are different than we are, no matter our status in life.
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We may be the marginalized and outcastes in our town.
. .Christ is born into our hearts when we start to love someone who
is “filthy rich” and/or have much status and power in our world. We
may be the “upscale” and “well-off”, and need to have Christ born
into our hearts with someone who has to choose between food and
medicine.
The Spirit of Christmas is born when the lions lay down with the
lambs. When those who are ready to pick a fight can suddenly lay
down their anger in the manger; when those who are seeking revenge
can kneel before the manger; when those who live in constant fear
can find peace because of the Christ child.
God, baby Jesus, Holy Spirit, help us to find You living in our own
hearts.
"Love God with all your heart, mind and soul. Love your neighbor as
yourself."
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