Pastoral ponderings . . .

Epiphany is the day when the Magi arrive at the manger, and the nativity scene is complete. The gospel of Matthew shows us that the whole cosmos is present at the birth-place of Jesus, and because all creation is there, from the poorest of the poor to the wealthiest traveler; the beasts of the wild, and those of the stall; because All That Is has a place at the manger, so do we. We can see ourselves there too.                                                                                                   

Danger is there too. The threat of imminent suffering. But it’s much harder to see. This isn’t a child who’s born in the lap of luxury or privilege of any kind. He’s survived his birth in the worst possible conditions for his mother,only to have evil Herod plotting his death. As children we don’t see the peril. We don’t see how vulnerable the baby in the manger truly is, and that’s as it should be. We’re dazzled by the light and sound of angel voices, and the magic of O Holy Night. That’s what childhood should be about.  That’s the experience we hope every child can have at the manger every Christmas. It’s only when we’re older that we know from our own life experience that there’s more at his manger than first meets the eye. Because this child has been born to turn the tables on the status quo and to over-turn every oppression. He is born into compassion for the lowly and the poor because he is one of them.

See how subversive our God is! Instead of Caiaphas or Caesar’s daughter, God chooses Mary, a girl of little or no esteem, betrothed to a carpenter who makes his living one day to the next, all to show us that when we ourselves are most vulnerable; when we are destitute, powerless, and hopeless, then that is the moment we are most like this Christ himself. I believe this is meant to turn our way of thinking completely upside down. Health, wealth, a doubtless faith and a spotless record are what we think are the hallmarks of a righteous life.  But to me it seems that’s not our subversive God’s plan. Instead, Jesus is born into compassion for the most human and imperfect of all of us,   even ourselves, because he is one of us.

Oppression takes many forms in this life. It’s systemic, but it’s also personal. I think of those among us who live with the oppression of chronic pain, both physical and emotional. Those who live like heroes, with the symptoms of MS. Those who struggle with the simple act of living daily life.  I think of children who live with the oppression of an incurable illness, and their parents who suffer with them.  Geneticists like Dr. John Carey at the University of Utah have spent a lifetime in their profession, witnessing children and their parents struggle with genetic disease and disorders. And as their witness, teaching his students how to continue the search for a cure. I believe that in this way, science can be the hand of God’s compassion, drawing us into enlightenment; drawing us into reign of God’s peace and justice.

Oppression has many forms in this life. The suffering of children has many causes: some human-made, others simply the result of being human. For those who believe there is no place at the manger for them; for those who believe that God is only with the physically fit, the powerful, the wealthy, and elite; the qualities many often attribute to the righteous, the blesssed, and the highly favored of God; here is good news! Our subversive God chooses rather to be born among those most oppressed, those most vulnerable to suffering and need. And because of this, those who’ve been told they’ve done something to offend God, who’ve somehow earned their suffering as a punishment for sin, will find their place at the manger today too.

Because instead of “a girl for whom everything is so easy,” God chose Mary, from nowhere Nazareth and was born lowly and poor to show us that it’s when we are at our most vulnerable, our most destitute; when we are the most powerless and hopeless, that’s when we are most like the Child of Heaven himself.

For this child is Emmanuel,  the one who will not rest until all oppressions cease. May we carry his good news with us on the different roads we will travel, as the Magi once did;    knowing we never travel alone.                                      

– Pr. David