Glory to God in the Lowest

Glory to God in the Lowest

"Life without God is... Freedom? Self-sufficiency? Science...? " The answer from generations of philosophers (whether Christian or not) is instead "...despair and darkness." But, responding to that existential human condition, Is 9:1 tells us "Nevertheless..." Let’s realize that – because of God coming to earth at Christmas – life’s darkness (that we cannot by ourselves escape) has been seared open by a devastatingly brilliant light. Most important, this Light is not our doing – it is outside of us, and it comes from beyond us. This realization is the beginning of humility, and of openness to God’s grace.

If we’re not careful, we can let the sweetness and beauty of Christmas distract us from the power and sheer impossibility of Christmas. God has come to earth as a child…! “Immanuel” is – all at the same time – comforting (“God is near me, how nice!”), unsettling (“God sees everything I’m doing?!?”), and completely implausible.

"You shall bruise his heel, and he will crush your head." (Ge 3:15) The Bible doesn't make it more than two pages before it starts telling us what Jesus will do. The serpent will harm Jesus, but Jesus will destroy the serpent in return! Like a child before Christmas(!), God so wants to unwrap his gifts and show us what's coming.

Jesus calls those who are weary and burdened to come to him and receive rest. What are we burdened by? Guilt, shame, disappointment... we can bring it all to him and find forgiveness, grace, mercy. His yoke is easy and He is gentle with us. In him our souls find rest. (Augustine: Our souls are restless until they find their rest in Him)

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Matthew 10:34

Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me is not worthy of me, and who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Matthew 10:37

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 10:39