Christmas Magic

As I read the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke this morning I was struck by the way Jesus was born in an occupied country amidst the forced migration of his parents and the parallels with the genocide taking place in Gaza today.   I was also struck by the intersection of heavenly glory and earthly humiliation. 

Jesus being placed in a feeding trough is an embarrassment to us all.  When children are born into families without stable shelter it’s a system wide failure and marker of how the world needs to change.  Yet when the angels appeared with glorious sight and sound to the shepherds they announced Christ’s humble birth as a heavenly sign.  The glory of God descending into human frailty and injustice to transform the situation of a humiliated and oppressed family into lives that would change the world.  That’s Christmas magic.  That’s the magic we celebrate every Christmas and that God invites us to participate in.  It’s God’s presence with the lowly and God’s power to shine gloriously in and among us to change things.  This Christmas season, I pray that you receive and share heavenly gifts that will bring salvation to you and those around you.  I pray that what is born in you and to you will change the world.   

For the world I pray for peace.  To the world I call for peace.  Cease fire in Gaza.  Russia withdraw from Ukraine.  May wars forever cease.

May peace prevail on Earth and may Christmas magic change the world.

Amen.