Christmas is great because of the incongruity of it all. Even today, many believers, particularly those who shout the loudest, picture a deity of power, majesty and grandeur. They like the parting of the Red Sea, destruction of enemies and visions of harsh judgment. They like to quote, "The beginning of wisdom is the fear of God." The king who commands respect and sets rules, that is the image of God most subscribed to then. Many still do.
Yet God did not come riding a cyclone throwing thunderbolts. He came as a defenseless infant born to nondescript parents in an animal pen. This was God as "the still, small voice." Who would fear a baby, a poor child, a run of the mill craftsman like thousands of others?
No one would, of course. That is the wonder of it, and the design. We are not meant to fear. Indeed, as an adult the first words out of Jesus' mouth to people in trouble were usually, "Be not afraid." The message and the spurs are humility, empathy for our condition and love. Jesus radically defied our expectations at birth and kept on doing so his whole life. God as a child, a servant, an outcast, a criminal. He was like nothing most people would have expected, carrying a message that turned the wisdom of the world upside down.
May you enjoy a wondrous Christmas season this year.
1 comment:
These are nice stories. Remember though, that there are lots of other religions and beliefs out there.
Happy Holidays
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