Pausing to reflect on the season

Mostly, it seems, I blog about foolishness. Today, I'm taking a moment to blog about the foolishness of God. That may sound sacrilegious to some, but hear me out.

To a world that was violent, callous, and hard, God sent relief and redemption not in the form of a conquering army (as was expected), but in the weakness of a baby. What foolishness! To think that a baby would be able to do anything against the might of Rome, or the evil of men!

Yet on that night, that foolish story written from the foundation of time, foretold to Adam and Eve as they were expelled from Eden, and repeated by the prophets of old - began.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:8-20)

Christmas has become the season for excessive spending, excessive eating, and all kinds of self-indulgence. But in reality, Christmas is the moment where God took upon himself our flesh in all its weakness and frailty, so that he could rescue us out of the sin that has enslaved us and restore us to our proper place in his kingdom, if only we would accept that rescue.

And so, from my house to yours, we wish you not just Merry Christmas, but all the blessings and joy that extend from the birth of that Savior. Gloria in excelcis deo!



Thanks to Musings of a Vast Right Winger for the video