The book Genesis, the first book of the Bible, although largely not an historical account of the matters with which it deals, is never without importance. It contains within its pages a number of profound truths about the relationship between God, the world and its people. For example:
We are created in God’s image. In other words, we have reason, the potential for wisdom and the capability to bring into the world the strong, loving-kindness which we believe lies at the very heart of God.
In a story which is pregnant with the sense of fellowship, unity and relationship which God would have with us, in the cool of the day he comes into the Garden to meet with his people, personified as Adam and Eve.
In the same story, however, those same people, having given in to temptation and self satisfying, are filled with a sense of shame and of their lost innocence, and hide from their Lord behind the trees, having first stitched together crude garments to hide their shame.
As I say, not real historical events, but profound parables of profound truth.
The Christian life too is about relationship; relationship with God, through Jesus, and with others in the world around us. The New Testament Christmas stories built around the historical truth of the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem are also filled with profound truths about the meeting of God with his people, this time in their own very flesh:
Shepherds, St Luke tells us, guarding other people’s animals, and representing not the powerful and well-heeled, but the ordinary, marginalised, even downtrodden people of the world, become aware of history-changing happenings, and rush off to the filthy cave or shed to meet with one who brings about such change. Luke’s Jesus is there for you and me, the ordinary ones.
St Matthew tells of Wise Men, Kings, Sages (whatever we call them), representing the rich and influential people of the world, who also seek to meet with him. On doing so they offer symbolic gifts which tell us of how Matthew understood his friend Jesus – Gold for a King, Frankincense (incense) for God’s presence, and Myrrh, the sign of pain and death, for God present with the world’s suffering ones. Matthew’s Jesus is there for the powerful ones too.
St John, perhaps Jesus’s closet earthly friend, writes not of shepherds, Kings or even directly about the birth of a child. John tells of the WORD – the very being of God – becoming flesh, and of the true light which can enlighten every heart and mind, coming into an unwelcoming and even hostile world. John declares that whoever was possessed of an open heart and an open mind and who turned to that light would become a true and loving child of God.
Christmas often means meetings with and relationships with those for whom we care and who care for us. It challenges you and me, however, to think more widely about relationships daily, not just on one day of the year. It should challenge us to meet with God through welcoming Jesus, and to become, day by day, one of his children seeking by word and deed to battle the darkness and live to make a difference for the better. Individuals we are; a community we can be. Make a difference we can; call for truth, we must.
Temptation to seek the easy path and to self-satisfy will always be there. We may long to ‘hide behind the trees’ of our shortcomings and weakness and we may prefer to avoid God’s call. Far better to come out, own up, meet with Jesus and walk the world as a child of God.
I wish you all a faithful Christmas and a committed New Year.
+ John Swansea and Brecon
