Nativity of our Lord - Revised Version

According to the lectionary I am consulting there are three sets of readings for Christmas Eve - Christmas Day. If I weren't so busy working in two church offices (Covenant Presbyterian Church and Bethany United Methodist Church--both on the west side of Madison, Wisconsin), I'd comment on all three, but as it is I will focus on the first set of readings. Needless to say, the holidays and end of year is a busy time for those of us involved in church accounting and the production of worship bulletins.

Many Christians (as well as others) are sick of "politics." I suppose that is because government can be an obnoxious nuisance. We look to spirituality and the church for transcendence--we want to get above all the daily unpleasantness of this world and instead experience union with the divine. But if we really read and understand Scripture it brings us crashing down to the messy and smelly "real world." Just read Luke's version of the Nativity . Really read it! Imagine Joseph & Mary realizing that the government will require them to make this journey with Mary nearly full term! Imagine the desperate search for shelter. Imagine what the stable must have smelled like (easy for this former farm boy). Had it not been for an oppressive and intrusive government, Jesus would not have been born in a stable in Bethlehem. He would not have fulfilled the prophecy that he would be born in David's home town. For that matter, titles like "messiah," and "Lord" are political titles. It occurs to me that even the title "Savior" in the context of this story must have political implications. In this context Luke doesn't seem to be talking about merely the individual salvation of souls, but the salvation of the whole people of God (if not, more specifically, Israel).

It strikes me that this season is one which strangely combines the joy of fulfillment and the longing hope for a fulfillment that is yet to be. Some of the Advent readings refer even to the "Second Advent" - the ultimate redemption of the whole world, the reconciliation of all things in God. Jesus came to us on a Christmas long ago (even if the day was not December 25). And on December 26th we continue to wait for Jesus to come again.