“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
Micah (5:2), King James Version
- Marienkirche Leeste, Germany / Christmas 2007
Last Christmas, Pastor Brusermann at a local church near my hometown (Weyhe’s Felicianius Church) told the congregation that Christmas also meant that “this world could be made good, again”.
The reverends inspirational sermon stuck with me, and the beauty and the power of the nativity story occurred to me, again, and anew.
“Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrival’s gate at Heathrow Airport.”
Fictional UK Prime Minister David of the 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually.
Christmas is many things to many people, sure. To many others, it is nothing.
And still, it seems, if only it brought a little more of that love and kindness at Heathrow’s arrival gate, particularly to those in dire need of it, it’d be worth our while. (Nevermind the excessive consumption).
And yet, this most beautiful and powerful of stories, the nativity play, can be so much more.
- The Knights of Columbus Nativity Scene
It’s not just a correctness-embellished “Season’s Greeting”, not just the consumption stimulus, not just the borderline kitsch of a “feel good” (rather than do good) romantic comedy.
It’s a stubborn conviction, that against all odds, in the coldest of winters and smallest of stables, “this world could be made good again”.
It’s a little hard to believe this Christmas, as always. Copenhagen has failed to aid the poor, and to save the planet. A student, who wasn’t born wanting to do this, stabbed his female teacher to death. And neither the Palestinian Bayt Lahm (or Beit Lehem) nor Israeli-occupied/settled Efrat heed the call of their ancient son, “and this man shall be peace” (Micah (5:2), King James Version).
And still, this message of salvation, that is given to us, may also be the most precious gift we can give each other if we let it inspire us to believe in real change.
… that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus …
It becomes a gift for everyone, when we make it a message of political salvation, too, of how we all live together, not just of personal gratification, at Heathrow, and elsewhere.
… and laid him in a manger …
And already, it is a political story – indeed, a scandal. That in this small village “among the thousands of Judah”, to the smallest of people, carpenter Joseph and virgin Mary an illegitimate child is born, that shall “reign in peace for ever”.
This is the kind of good news, that we need. This can be our message of salvation from the injustice of a people, inequality between people and repression of a young woman. For still today – if no more to carpenter and virgin – a child is born into this so flagrantly fallible world, under the most dire of circumstances.
Let us let shine that unreasonable hope emerging from the stable, for the life chances of that child, here and now, and not just tonight.
“This child that lies a helpless boy / shall yet become your endless joy /
shall frustrate Hell’s endeavour / and reign in peace for ever.”
Choral: Brich an Du schönes Morgenlicht, Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248. Johann Sebastian Bach.
Be not afraid!
“Be not afraid! For behold! I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.”
Rezitativo: Und der Engel sprach zu Ihnen, Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248. Johann Sebastian Bach.
That Lord is born, and an Angel sends the herdsman to meet him first, and then sings to them, the most beautiful song, not be afraid. It is their elevation from the plights of working in the field, and it can be our message of salvation how to leave no one behind, and for the wolves, that we are to each other.
- City Harvest Church Service / via Flickr, originally uploaded by Jefferson Siow
… and on Earth peace, good will toward men …
With all the decked halls, the presents, the love and the food, let’s not miss the wood for all the Christmas trees: today, we celebrate this amazing message of salvation. Let’s make it our message of salvation, our stubborn hope and unfailing resource for change. Let’s rediscover the message of political hope, that it also is.
And then, to act on it: no matter how improbable the change we need appears, no matter how humble and small a single one contribution can be, and, against all unforgiving ridicule, to always do it in the spirit of love and kindness.
For that would be the greatest present, especially to those who will receive none tonight: “to make that world good, again”, as Pastor Brusermann said last Christmas already.
- Candlelight Service / via Flickr, originally uploaded by Mr Wright.
Hallo Max,
frohe Weihnachten. Deine Interpretation der Weihnachtsgeschichte finde ich passend gewählt und wortgewaltig geschrieben – dafür meine anerkennende Bewunderung!
Persönlich und unabhängig von deinem Essay finde ich es nur bedauerlich, dass – trotz aller Richtigkeit deiner Anmerkungen und der Aktualität des Inhalts der Weihnachtsgeschichte als literarisch wertvolles Dokument – letztere nie für sich stehen gelassen wird sondern (leider) immer noch und in jedem Zusammenhang gleich wieder von der Welt des Irrationalen (der Religion) vereinnahmt wird.
Liebe Grüße und gute Rutsch, Jan-Dirk
Dear Jan-Dirk,
thanks for your thoughtful comment and a Happy Christmas to you, your family and your wife, too!
I agree that the Nativity Story is a great and inspiring story, even independent of its religious context. Although … in part, I think I want a little more context for Christmas and its story, but I agree that that context, to be meaningful, and to encourage change, need not be a religious one. That would also be important to save and to spread the meaning of Christmas to other people, who are not Christian.
And speaking of context – historical or religious – I wish I understood something about that. I wonder what a theologian would have to say about this matter …
This post is also on my blog at PolicyNet: http://www.policy-net.org/blogs/thepotentpolity/merrychristmasbethlehemephratathoughthoubelittle
Die Weihnachtsgeschichte ausschließlich in einem politischen Kontext zu betrachten, hat natürlich den Vorteil, dass ihre hoffnungsvolle Botschaft so auch Menschen erreichen kann, die mit religiösen Vorstellungen nichts anfangen können.
Trotzdem finde ich es schwierig, eine Geschichte, die von Wundern und göttlicher Bestimmung handelt und auf die sich immerhin eine ganze Religion gründet, ohne religiösen Kontext zu betrachten. Wenn man die Welt des Irrationalen außen vor lässt, verändert sich doch auch die Botschaft der Geschichte – was ja nicht schlecht sein muss.
Es ist aber auch immer wieder aufschlussreich, die Weihnachtsgeschichte und ihre schlichte und schöne Botschaft eben der Religion, die sich auf sie beruft, gegenüber zu stellen. Ich denke, es ist traurig, wie weit sie sich von diesen Ursprüngen entfernt hat.
Btw: “vor lauter Weihnachtsbäumen den Wald nicht mehr sehen” – Der gefällt mir gut, Max
Hey Lea, Blogpost-Twin
.
I agree that it may be problematic to take the Nativity Story out of its religious context, and treat it like any other story. It simply is not. And also: that kind of decontextualization frequently lends itself to ideological abuse of otherwise always ambiguous material.
I think, however, that even when you’re looking at – or rather FOR – the political relevance of the Nativity Story, it’s about believing.
I’m not sure whether we all have to agree on one religion or set of dogmas – I think not. I really want the Nativity Story to be a specific text, with maybe a universal appeal to everyone, who is willing to believe that things can be a lot better here.
And that, surely, is a matter of belief, not of realism.
Thanks for the follow-up – havent seen it that way really, but I agree