DECEMBER 2019

Selections from past posts...

Dec. 3, 2012

Christmas movies.  Yes, I've been watching them on the Hallmark channel for days now.  Besides the love of romance, I have the slapstick gene that makes me laugh at "Elf," "Grinch," and "Ernest Saves Christmas."  As I think of the original Nativity, what if Joseph was most concerned with putting up Christmas lights in the stable, decorating a tree, wrapping presents--you get the picture--while Mary was in labor.  This is kinda like the father-to-be who watches a ballgame while his wife is having hard contractions.  This image of a preoccupied Joseph is about as ridiculous as some of our overwhelming busyness of the season while it really is about a baby being born, the Gift of God, the Son of God, Emanuel, God with us. 

Here is a Welsh carol, "Poverty" (Nativity).  

"All poor men and humble, 

Come haste ye, nor feel ye afraid;

For Jesus, our treasure, 

With love past all measure,

 In lowly poor manger was laid. 

Though wise men who found him

Laid rich gifts around him,

Yet oxen they gave him their hay:

And Jesus in beauty

Accepted their duty;

Contented in manger he lay.

Then haste we to show him

The praises we owe him;

Our service he ne'er can despise:

Whose love still is able to show us that stable

Where softly in manger he lies."

"And she gave birth to her first-born son;

and she wrapped Him in cloths,

and laid Him in a manger,

because there was not room for them in the inn."

Luke 2:7

Are you ready to kneel before the Wonder in a manger?