Monday, December 21

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

THE BIRTH OF JESUS

Childbirth is one of the most wonderful and deeply profound experiences of the human experience. It is also extremely painful, scary, and messy. How fitting that God would choose to step down into creation in this manner. That sheer power and omnipotence would condescend to our level, and exist with us, experiencing everything as we experience it, is mind boggling. Truly this is the magnificent mystery of the Christian faith, that the “Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” This journey is wonderfully illustrated in Future of Forestry’s “The Earth Stood Still” music video, created by Scott Zibell. It depicts the adventure of Mary and Joseph on the road from Galilee to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus Christ.

There is a sublime simplicity to this video. For nine months this babe has grown within Mary, a very young teenage girl. The mottled terrain and fabric dressings speak quietly of the difficult journey Mary and Joseph have endured. We are reminded of the path taken 2,000 years ago,

and the beginning of the greatest story ever known. It was an arduous trek, filled with pain and sweat, frustration and endurance, foreshadowing the life that Jesus would lead. Each miniature figure we see stands in mid-motion, creating a sense of anticipation to the coming action.

The lyric “and the earth stood still” repeats throughout the piece, starting simply before sweetly swelling, drawing us into the wonder and unknown silence of the event. In childbirth, there is often a moment of intense anticipation when the baby emerges and is silent just before letting out a loud cry and gasping for a first breath. For those who have not witnessed childbirth, the sensation is akin to the moment right before the first drops of rain fall in a storm, or the silence immediately preceding a crash of thunder, or crack of a bat. It was a holy moment when Immanuel, God with us, first emerged into the world, and everything—all creation, stopped in shared anticipation of Christ’s first infant cries.

There is a pronounced physicality and rough tactile feeling to the miniature video sets. The stars sparkle in the sky, tiny angels watch from puffy clouds on strings, and long shadows are cast on a dusty village. As the melody pulses and builds, we are granted a God’s eye view of the small earthly drama unfolding below, a drama that contains the message of peace on earth, good will toward men. While the hustle and bustle of the world goes by, humbly, in the small corner of a stable, Salvation is born.

PRAYER
Oh Lord, may we be humbled and awed to silence at the mystery of Your plan of Salvation. May we value the lives we have and the lives of others. Let us look with love and compassion at the world You have created, and tremble with holy fear at the mercy You lavish. And let us sweetly rejoice at the birth of Your Son, the Lamb of God, come to take away the sins of the world.
Amen.

Shawn Thomas, Admission Marketing Coordinator, UCM