When Love Comes To Town....

So many people the year have commented to me "its Christmas now, I've just seen the Coca-Cola advert for the first time". And this weekend we've been to see Father Christmas on the steam trains, we've put up the Christmas tree and decorations (and put them up again as the lights in the conservatory decided they were'nt going to stay up the first time). Christmas cards are written (thanks Sarah) and presents are purchased (thanks Amazon) - the trappings are in place. But is this really Christmas?

The traditional nativity scene - a tidy stable, Mary, not a hair out of place looks lovingly at her newborn son, who sleeps quietly and peacefully in a straw filled manger - no crying from the infant son of God! Watching over them, a serene-looking Joseph stands by, as do the cattle and donkeys, seemingly undisturbed by these strangers in their home, even the little one in their food box. Around the manager stand the shepherds, bringing their cute fluffy sheep, and outside, the innkeeper is greeting three well dressed noblemen, bringng their expensive gifts ... is this really Christmas?

Or is it the story of an unmarried teenage mother, 100 miles from home, giving birth in a dark, dirty cave, surrounded by smelly animals, knowing that this is just the start of an amazing journey, trusting in her God regardless of the consequences. Is it the tale of respectable man who chooses a path which can only lead to scandal and gossip and which leads ultimately to exile, doing so because he knows that whilst others may not see that he is doing right, what he does is good?

Is it the story of a band of homeless shepherds, scratching a living looking after other people's sheep - out on the hillside's fighting wolves and lions because frankly the rest of the world considers them expendable, chosen by God to be the first outsiders to hear of the birth of his son. A story of the acceptance of the unacceptable - of inclusion and blessing to all?

Christmas - the eruption of the infinite into the finite world. Christmas - an explosion of love transforming not just the moment, but all eternity. Christmas - God's answer.

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