A Profound Humility

Seasons greetings everyone. Rob here.

This Christmas let’s not pretend that all is well in the world. Let’s not pretend that we don’t have our own sufferings to contend with. Let’s not pretend that we have all the answers about God and life and faith. But let us also not pretend that Christmas is all about the kids or the meal or the presents, or even about family and charity and caring for each other. I love all those things about Christmas but the big message of Christmas is that the kingdom of God has invaded our world and that God’s reversal of evil and all its effects has begun, is sure and is certain. The kingdom has come and the kingdom is coming and we have a special role to play in it.

But to enter into that special role we need to follow the path that Jesus followed. Motivated by a deep joy, the joy set before him, Jesus embraced a profound humility, an unsettling vulnerability, and a mission of sacrificial love in order to restore our humanity and our connection with the God of life. Jesus came at Christmas because God so loved the world and every person in it, including you and me and every person on this planet. And he wants us to receive that love, be filled with that love and let that love flow out into his creation. We love because he first loved us.

This has not been an easy year and difficulties continue for many, but I know that my family can say that we have loved each other. I know that you have loved others too. And we must continue to grow in loving each other. That’s the message of this season. Love come down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine. That love led the Word to become flesh, to humble himself, to become poor, to become a servant, to die on a cross, for you and me and all of creation. Now death has been conquered, sin has lost its power, and the devil’s claims have been revoked, and you and I have been restored as sons and daughters of the living God, heirs of the kingdom, bearers of good news and of divine love, hope, joy and peace. We are agents of God’s reversal in this world.

Enjoy Christmas and all its joys, but most of all enjoy the love of God and love others well.