At the edge of time itself the world was created. As creation unraveled into earth, sea and sky, humanity itself was birthed from the very fabric of the earth itself. Humanity’s respect for the created world soon diminished and the fall from grace required the creator himself to intervene.
He first entered human history through the stories of the patriarchs, judges, prophets and kings – each time humanity rejected his outreach, until there was no option. God himself took on the flesh of humankind, in human time, in a human place, circa 6 BCE, possibly Bethlehem in Judah. He was given the name Yeshua (or Joshua) which in Hebrew meant ‘the Lord delivers’.
The written story is bereft of the details that would make it satisfying. It is saturated with Davidic imagery, messianic expectation, an alignment with the poor and marginalised, angelic apparitions, it provides answers for which we do not know the questions.
One third of the world’s population are followers of this Yeshua. Through his life, ministry and ultimately his death and resurrection, these followers carry the firmest conviction that a new reign was inaugurated. With faith, this reign of God would transform both the present and future.
25 December, long a pagan festival of the winter soltice or of the Roman Sol Invictus, has been enthroned since the third century as the birthday of the person we know as Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Son of God.
Intimately linked to the Annunciation of the Lord, as the moment of God’s incursion into human form, Christmas is the celebration of God’s incarnation. For this is the day when God chose to walk with us, to breathe the same air, to eat the same food, to love a family, to learn to talk, walk, read and write, to labour, to experience joy and sadness – this is the intimacy that the Christian believes he has with his God, the gift of Christmas.
May your Christmas be one where in the companionship of your family and friends, you find the face of God.
With every blessing to you.
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