It All Started at the Manger
When I see a small, thin pine sapling, spindly and droopy, I think, all that needs is a lone, red ornament. And I hear Schroeder on the piano and see Linus wearing his blue blanket like a shepherd. In the Peanuts Christmas special, Charlie Brown is disillusioned and disheartened with the commercialism of the holiday season. Feeling unfulfilled despite the festive atmosphere, Charlie seeks guidance from his friends and decides to direct the school Christmas play– in search for meaning. However, his efforts are met with teasing and making fun when he chooses a small, scraggly little tree as the centerpiece of the Christmas program. Even Snoopy, his loyal beagle, laughs and laughs.
“I guess you were right, Linus” he says. “I shouldn't have picked this little tree. Everything I do turns into a disaster. I guess I really don't know what Christmas is all about.” In desperation, he shouts, “ISN'T THERE ANYONE WHO KNOWS WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT?!”
Beloved little Linus, toting his blue blanket, moves to center stage and calls for a spotlight. Then he begins to recite Luke 2. “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night…” Linus continues on with the story of the first Christmas night, and finally says, “This is what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
The in-breaking of God in flesh is told in vs 6-7 in a most restrained, understated way: It happened… while they were there… her term was up… the days completed for her to deliver. So she did, a first-born son. She wrapped him up and placed him in a feed trough because there was no place of lodging for them anywhere else.
It is important to Luke for his hearers to see that this child, whose birth has been foretold down through the ages, and a descendant of King David – even he has nowhere to lay his head except a feed trough. Amidst our typical Christmas pageantry – Songs and carols, Chrismons and poinsettias, bows and ribbon, evergreen adornments, and brightly lit Christmas trees-- we could not present a more contrasting humble and private event than what we read in vs 6-7. These are not perfect circumstances for a motor lodge much less a birthing suite. And yet, there may not be in all the world a more replicated scene by children in bathrobes pretending to be the little holy family, shepherds, or angels in tinsel halos and feathery wings. Every nativity play I’ve ever seen has a cranky inn keeper and there is no such person in the scripture. We have gathered a lot of lore of the birth story from carols we sing. Little lord Jesus asleep in the hay… Until the cows moooo. The baby awakes but no crying he makes, yeah, right.
But like gathering at the Lord’s Supper table, re-enacting the Christmas story is another way we remember Jesus – that he was born into the everyday lives of ordinary people to live amongst us, not above us.
This is the holy night we have been waiting for. The night that hope became tangible; peace touchable, joy - sweet and fleshy, Love - God with us. Love with skin on. God appeared as a needy, vulnerable little baby and was placed in a feed trough. The manger is a critical point of convergence. The gospel story starts at the manger. From the manger, hope, peace, joy, Love grows! This is good news.
This good news asserts not only that there is a God who has created and still sustains the vast cosmos, but that this God knows the hairs on your head, and the cares in your heart. This God knows your hopes and dreams, successes and failures, and cared enough to send his one and only son into the world so that we can experience hope, peace, joy & love abundantly. On this night we celebrate THAT good news, which the angel tells us, is good news for ALL the people (2:10).[1]
I’ve told you about this before, but I was reminded of it recently when an old picture resurfaced on social media. It was one particular year in the children’s nativity pageant, when babydoll Jesus was resting in his 8-yr old mother Mary’s arms, and 10 yr old Joseph was looking on more sheepish than the sheep. As the audience sang, O Come All Ye Faithful, one by one the rest of the children walked to the front of the sanctuary to stand all around the little holy family. Children were invited to dress in any costume. You might think angels, shepherds and wisemen… and there were some of those. But also gathered around the manger that night were Spiderman and Wonder woman, ninjas and power rangers, Disney princesses, black cats and dinosaurs. They wore their favorite costumes to the Nativity play, which certainly raised some eyebrows. I mean those characters aren’t written in Luke 2, are they? But like an innkeeper and even wise-guys who really weren’t present at the birth (they didn’t show up until the boy Jesus was about 3 years old); the children reminded all those present that night that Jesus came for all people and that everyone who wanted to gather around the baby Jesus belonged.
I wonder… ……Where are you in the story?
Humble shepherds… surprised by the love and attention of God, suddenly drawn into a relationship with Jesus; faithfully serving and tending the flock…?
Wise, scholarly seekers… Using your knowledge, study, signs, science to make sense of what you are seeing and seeking?
Do you sing with the Angels in the heavens?… You’ve always known, always believed, shining light and good news for all to see and hear is what you do?
Where are you in the story?
Perhaps you are more like Joseph… surrendered to a life you weren’t expecting, responding with curiosity, flexibility, humility to the ways life has unfolded for you; and perhaps forfeiting who you thought you would be in order to accept the role you were meant to play; following God’s plan for you.
Or are you like Mary… In order to be the person God created you to be, it has cost you dearly. Perhaps you were whispered about, or dismissed by your community. Maybe being in relationship with Jesus, as you are, has taken every bit of courage you could find.
Each one of these models for us different pathway to be in relationship with God. None more right or righteous than the other. [in the words of Steve Garnaas Holmes] Their hearts were opened like mangers to the warmth of divine presence. …Hearts opened like mangers, waiting for something to be born in them. Like the manger held the newborn babe wrapped in tender flesh, so our hearts can hold the mystery of a God who so desires to be with us, that he came knowing that this fractured world would crush the child. Even among us – poor in status or rich in knowledge, swallowed in grief or overflowing with joy, humble in heart or ripe with revolution to turn this world upside down… Even among us whose love often caves into fear, the Eternal has come to dwell. The great mystery of our faith starts with Christ is born – the moment of convergence. [2]
There is a phrase in O Holy Night that says, With glowing hearts, by his cradle we stand. We have stood by the manger for all of Advent and now here we are, hearts glowing…. Some people wait until Christmas eve to place the baby Jesus in their nativity sets. Waiting all through the darkness of Advent, with an open manger, waiting to see when Jesus will be born anew. The invitation on this night is to open your heart and consider, What is waiting to be born in you this Christmas?
[1] Lose, David
[2] Garnaas-Holmes, Steve https://unfoldinglight.net/2024/12/23/hush/