Christmas, Continued.

"[One cannot understand Christ truly] unless one realizes that he was born, not into an allegory, or a devotional tableau, or a Christmas card, with everybody behaving beautifully; but into this confused, coarse, and indifferent world, where people quarrel and swear, and make vulgar jokes and spit on the floor. He was a real person born in blood and pain like any other child, and dying in blood and pain, like the commonest thief that was ever strung up on the gallows." 
- Dorothy Sayers 

Happy Fourth Day of Christmas! Our celebration of the incarnation continues this week and through to January 6th. Such is the mystery and wonder of what we mark on Christmas Day that the church takes 12 days to revel in this reality. 

Today is also the church’s commemoration of The Holy Innocents, recalling Herod’s destruction of the male children of Bethlehem in his desire to kill Jesus and preserve his tyranny. That this horrible story is found in the midst of the Christmas season is reminder that the gift of Jesus comes into our world, a world of tyrants and injustice. Many of our carols can make it seem like Emmanuel is something of a fairy tale, unmoored from the real world, but today is a reminder that Jesus comes into our broken reality, bringing healing and restoration here. It’s also a reminder that his coming is not unopposed, by tyrants in the world, and often, by ourselves. There is a fresh opportunity to make sure that we have and are preparing room for Christ in our hearts and lives. 

We will continue to press into the majesty and joy of Christmas tomorrow with our “Lessons and Carols” service. I look forward to listening to the story of various readings, from Genesis to the Gospels, and singing carols once more with you! Nursery will be available, but otherwise children will participate in the full worship service with us. 

In Christ, 

Peter +