Carols by Candlelight, 2002 (part 2)
We call Jesus by the name Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” In this Advent season that leads us to Christmas, we discover, like the orphan Misha, that the God who came in Jesus Christ will never abandon or abuse us, but will stay with us for always.
Jesus promises to be with us:
when the cancer biopsy comes back positive, instead of negative,
when the exam is marked with an “F,” rather than an “A”,
when the spouse of 15 years stomps out the door, and doesn’t return,
when the dream of success in business or on the farm is left in ruins,
when the late-night long-distance call communicates a death, not a birth,
when the longing for family harmony is shattered by a shouting match,
when the yearning desire for companionship is drained by another lonely holiday season.
In all these depressing, discouraging, and disillusioning situations, Jesus is with us as Emmanuel, God-with-us. We’re never completely without companionship or support, as long as there are two babies in the manger.
So, why don’t we do a very good job of keeping Jesus warm? What is it that threatens to separate us from the Christ child these days?
Part of the problem is blindness we simply don’t see the manger. In our frantic search for comfort and joy, we look for lasting pleasure in all the wrong places: clubs and classes, parties and programmes, internet chatrooms and professional conferences. Sure, there is certainly some good to be found in these gatherings, but they also distract us from the one place we can find unconditional acceptance and unending peace: in the manger. It is only in a close relationship with Jesus Christ that we discover how truly valuable we are, as children of God.
There is also the problem of our incessant busyness we just don’t have time for the manger. In this Advent season in particular, our days are driven by endless parties, school concerts, church functions and shopping excursions, not to mention the cultural requirements of holiday decorating and Christmas-card-writing. Kind of ironic, isn’t it, that the escalating demands of Advent prevent us from taking time to focus on the reason for the season? Each of us should carve out an evening this coming week just to slow down and rest. Pretend that the Christ-child has been born this day in your particular house, requiring you to simply stay home and keep him company.
In addition, we face the challenge of doubt sometimes we don’t believe in the manger. The world is such a violent place, and so often victory seems to go to the powers with the largest arsenals and the most ruthless tactics. What chance does a baby in a manger have against suicide bombers, serial killers, machine-gun-toting terrorists and brutal governments? It’s not a fair fight. And yet, no single life has changed the world more than the life of that Bethlehem baby, a life that challenges people to look beyond this world to the kingdom of God.
There’s always room for another baby in the manger.
If we make the figurative trip to Bethlehem, we find the One who will stay with us on our journey, every step of the way, and will guide us toward an everlasting kingdom, one marked by love and peace and justice. If we give this baby comfort and support, we will find true comfort and support for ourselves as well.
But there is more to Advent than the pursuit of personal peace. In this time of preparation for Christmas, we are also challenged challenged to testify to the power of Christ in our own lives, and to tell the world about what Emmanuel is up to.
That’s what Will Fish and his colleague did when they travelled to Russia. That’s what little Misha did when he put two babies in the manger. And it’s what John the Baptist did when he came as a witness to testify to the light of Christ, so that all might believe through him.
There’s a lesson in this for us. Our challenge is never simply to stay close to Jesus and to enjoy his forgiveness, acceptance and peace. We also need to explain to the world why we are choosing to be one of two babies in the manger.