I apologize for being so late in writing about Christmas. Here it is the middle of January and Christmas is long past, but better late than never, or so they say. As I sat in Christmas Eve service recently I found myself saying, "So, once again we read and hear the story of Christmas, and it is a most amazing story." To quote the movie title, it is literally the greatest story ever told. But I realized in that moment that there is a tendency to view it as merely a story, however great. Unless it becomes our story, or more properly unless we become part of the story, it is nothing but a momentary warm and fuzzy feeling that soon loses its glow as we blow out the Christmas candles and are greeted by the cold winter air outside the church building.
I have heard (and confirmed on Google - so it must be true) that in Wales, there is a custom that each Nativity scene has Mary, Joseph and Jesus accompanied by a washerwoman (representing the common person). The belief is that if Jesus is not born into our daily lives then it makes very little sense to celebrate his birth in Bethlehem. The presence of angels and shepherds and kings all together at the manger should remind us that God is no respecter of persons, that all are created in His image and likeness and all are invited into the His presence from the lowest to the highest, without distinction. That fact makes the story ours as together we hear the amazing proclamation, "Today, in the city of David is born for YOU a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord."
What else can one say but "Glory to God in the highest?"
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