NEXT TIME IT WILL BE DIFFERENT

My mother made beautiful ceramic manger scenes for each one of her kids.  As I put it on display every Christmas I am reminded of those who gathered to welcome the birth of Jesus into the world.  Mary and Joseph enjoyed the company of angels, three wise men from the East, shepherds from the nearby fields, and of course the animals who were sharing their space with this new family.

This year, for some reason, I noticed the people who in my mind should have been there, but weren’t.  No one from the religious leaders of the Jewish people were there; no priests, Pharisees, or scribes from the temple made the hour journey from Jerusalem to come and see if what the wise men from the East had said was true; that the long awaited messiah, the king of the Jews prophesized in the Scriptures had been born in Bethlehem.  The chief priests and scribes had just read the Scriptures to Herod and yet none of them came to see if it was true.  I find that odd, but it does reveal the state of the religious system in Jerusalem.  Not only did it have priests, Pharisees, and scribes who were not interested in the plans and promises of God, but it had a king who was threatened by this child, who sent out an army to kill this child and to make sure he was dead, slaughter all the male children two years of age and under.  No wonder Jesus felt compelled to go to those of Israel first and cleanse the temple when his time had come.

It makes me think about the present condition here in America, politically and religiously. In the weeks prior to Christmas we have seen a new Freedom From Religion Foundation going around and “protecting” the public spaces from mangers scenes or any signs of religious significance.  We have “speech police” guarding what we say to one another, making sure that “Happy Holidays” and not “Merry Christmas” come from our mouths.  We have the gods of greed and materialism keeping their worshippers occupied and very busy from Black Friday thru Christmas Eve.  And then to add to all of that busyness we add the Churches preparing and rehearsing for their programs and pageants to entertain the masses of folks who feel obligated to attend Church once a year. It seems that it continues to be as it was on that first coming of Jesus into the world; there is no room for him anywhere.

As I sit and ponder the manger scene my mom made, and I think of some of my close friends who follow Jesus with all their hearts, I find myself comforted. Just like that first time there are those who are watching and waiting.  There are those who know he is coming again and they ponder that in promise in their hearts.  This next time there will be room and there will be people watching and waiting for him who will welcome him.  That is the Christmas I will celebrate.