CHRISTMAS MYSTERY AND WONDER

“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12

It’s illogical–God choosing to enter our world through the normal process of human birth in a manger and die a cruel death on a cross. Who would come up with such a crazy plan? I’m sure the angelic host was puzzled too. We would have at least had the Son of God gloriously appear as a king or a mighty warrior, not as a baby born in the same way any other human comes into the world—and certainly not in a filthy cow stall.

Pondering this inexplicable mystery of God who entered our world by humbling Himself to save us never ceases to arouse awe in those of us who truly grasp the wonder of it. Three powerful symbols or images of the Christian faith encapsulate the glorious mystery of God’s Incarnation and plan of salvation—the baby in a manger, the empty cross and the empty tomb. As wondrous as each of these images is for us as believers, the visual image of the Christ child lying in a feed trough in a cow stall may be the most troublesome for most people.

After all, how could the Creator of the vast universe and everything that lives stoop to such a low and unimpressive entrance to our world? This isn’t how a king should come, let alone the Creator! It is an image many have difficulty grasping and accepting, but it is precisely this mysterious intervention of God into our world that compels us to fall on our knees in awe, wonder and amazement at the Yuletide as we encounter God’s nature and love for us. This was no human invention, but the intervention of a loving and compassionate God.

Where do you and your family stand on the “awe and wonder scale” at Christmas? Might I suggest, if you have not already done so, establishing a Christmas family tradition that might help raise the wonder scale? It’s simple, really. Remove the Christ child from your crèche or nativity scene and wrap it in a nice package with a gift tag marked like this: To: (Your family), From: God. Place it under the tree to be the last gift you open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Replace the Christ child in the crèche, read Luke 2 and use this moment to talk about the significance of the way Christ came (Advent).

In the midst of all our human holiday trappings, this could be a wonderful opportunity to engage with the wonder and awe of the Christmas story. Remember, this was the moment in which the angelic host sang together: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” Should we do any less?