Lowell Grisham: A way, in a manger

Reconciling love transcends mankind’s ‘false boundaries’

Christians have just celebrated Christmas Day, when we say God comes to humanity uniquely in the birth of the child Jesus. Christmas is also a season, the 12 days between Dec. 25 and Jan. 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. "Epiphany" means "manifestation," and on that day we tell the story of the visit of the Magi (the Wise Men), Gentiles from another land and culture who visit the manger and are welcomed.

The manger scene is an image of universal reconciliation. The Christmas crèche invites us to re-imagine the whole creation as it really can be, a place of peace and good will.

In that scene, God comes to us in a quiet and humble way. A poor couple, forced to travel because of an oppressive foreign empire's greed, must shelter in an animals' manger for the birth of their first child. We see God coming to us in this way. We open our eyes to God's presence in every humble place, in every poor person, in every human child, in every circumstance of oppression.

This same family will later flee as refugees to a foreign land where they will find safety and hospitality in a time of threat. We open our eyes to God's presence in every refugee and in each act of hospitality.

Near the manger there were shepherds keeping their flocks. Shepherds were regarded with mistrust and suspicion, not unlike the way we might think of inner city gangs. Shepherds were hard people living hard lives -- cautious, cynical, defensive. Yet the heavens opened for these shepherds and angelic voices spoke to them of good tidings for all people, peace on earth and God's good will toward humanity. Their arrival at the manger must have been as startling as a gang of Hell's Angels, but the Holy Family welcomed them with grace. We open our eyes to God's presence in those who seem scandalous or frightening.

The shepherds bring their flocks. Sheep brought to a livestock stable where the child we see as God's coming is born. We open our eyes to God's presence in all of the created order, including the lowly animals.

The last to arrive are the Magi--scientists seeking truth through the study of the stars. They are probably priests of Zoroastrianism, the ancient religion of Iran. They follow a rising star to the manger where they are welcomed in a beautiful scene of mutual regard across cultural, racial and religious boundaries. We open our eyes to God's presence in all who seek truth from any path or tradition, including science and other religions.

The gentle scene at the manger symbolizes the peace and respect that can exist across cultures and classes and races. It is a picture of hidden power finding synergy in the humble place. Christians claim that Christ was the unique, but not exclusive revelation of God (H. Richard Niebuhr). We recognize that the truth of sages and scientists from any realm or discipline will ultimately guide any truth-seeker toward Truth Itself, Ultimate Reality, whom we call God.

The humble image of the manger shows us the reconciliation of division. All is united in a union that also preserves distinctions. God is reconciled with humanity; the divine enters humbly into all creation; stars and animals rejoice in their own manner; the wise and the scandalous find their way. Note, it all happens below the radar of rulers and authorities.

I trust that God is still working far below the tumult and conflict that fills our world. God is working in humble ways, bringing peace and good will to all.

I hope that the yearly celebration of this season will remind a divided and suspicious world of the possibilities of reconciling love that transcends the false boundaries of nation, religion, race, wealth and power.

Every child is God's child. Every poor family is God's family. Every refugee and crook and magi, from every race and religion and land belongs to God. Earth and stars, animals and angels. We all belong together in a fellowship of humble hospitality.

It takes some hope and faith to trust in this reality, to trust that this vision is more true and more powerful than the depressing distraction of today and tomorrow's headlines and commercials.

It always goes back to love. A Christmas carol seems to catch it.

Love shall be our token;

love be yours and love be mine,

love to God and neighbor,

love for plea and gift and sign.

Commentary on 12/27/2016

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