Many people I know are really struggling to come to grips with celebrating this Christmas. Some won’t at all. So I ponder the Christmas story and I try to think of an encouraging or comforting word.
I find it interesting in the two Gospel accounts we have of the telling of the birth of Jesus, that even though the coming of a Messiah is expected in Israel, the Jesus event was still somewhat unexpected in many ways. In Matthew this nearly caused Joseph to break off his relationship with Mary before it started. In Luke Mary was deeply troubled when coming to terms with the news that this was about to happen. Everyone we read of who learnt of Jesus birth had to be prompted in some way. No-one expected such an event.
So this Christmas reminds me of unexpected happenings and not exactly events that bring us joy but rather anxiety, pain, questions and bewilderment. I am also reminded however that the Christ breaks in, in an environment where there is uncertainty and instability, where people wait in hope yet have made no room for his arrival. So Jesus comes anyway, and what is it exactly that we expect? Does Christ come invited or uninvited? Whatever the case is Christ’s presence welcome?
I have found the following reflection from Thomas Merton very helpful.
‘Into this world, this demented inn, in which there is absolutely no room for him at all, Christ comes uninvited.
But because he cannot be at home in it, because he is out of place in it, and yet he must be in it, His place is with those for whom there is no room.
His place is with those who do not belong, who are rejected by power, because they are regarded as weak, those who are discredited, who are denied status of persons, who are tortured, bombed and exterminated.
With those for whom there is no room, Christ is present in this world.’
If you won’t be joining us at Blackwood this Christmas, may your Christmas be filled with the unexpected peace, love and presence of Christ our Savior.
Shalom
Mark Riessen
I find it interesting in the two Gospel accounts we have of the telling of the birth of Jesus, that even though the coming of a Messiah is expected in Israel, the Jesus event was still somewhat unexpected in many ways. In Matthew this nearly caused Joseph to break off his relationship with Mary before it started. In Luke Mary was deeply troubled when coming to terms with the news that this was about to happen. Everyone we read of who learnt of Jesus birth had to be prompted in some way. No-one expected such an event.
So this Christmas reminds me of unexpected happenings and not exactly events that bring us joy but rather anxiety, pain, questions and bewilderment. I am also reminded however that the Christ breaks in, in an environment where there is uncertainty and instability, where people wait in hope yet have made no room for his arrival. So Jesus comes anyway, and what is it exactly that we expect? Does Christ come invited or uninvited? Whatever the case is Christ’s presence welcome?
I have found the following reflection from Thomas Merton very helpful.
‘Into this world, this demented inn, in which there is absolutely no room for him at all, Christ comes uninvited.
But because he cannot be at home in it, because he is out of place in it, and yet he must be in it, His place is with those for whom there is no room.
His place is with those who do not belong, who are rejected by power, because they are regarded as weak, those who are discredited, who are denied status of persons, who are tortured, bombed and exterminated.
With those for whom there is no room, Christ is present in this world.’
If you won’t be joining us at Blackwood this Christmas, may your Christmas be filled with the unexpected peace, love and presence of Christ our Savior.
Shalom
Mark Riessen
2 comments:
I thought this was a post about you going to your parents for tea while Verity was away!!!
You'll keep
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