Love Came Down at Christmas, A Gift for all Seasons of Life

While they were there, the time came for Mary to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2: 6-7)

Through the years of our marriage and ministry, Jacqui and I have accumulated several manger scenes. Some were gifts from friends. Others we collected in our travels. Still more were handed down by family members. While I dread the annual chore of dragging the Christmas boxes out of the attic, I do look forward each year to carefully unwrapping these diverse depictions of Jesus’ birth and determining where to place them in our home.

There is a small, simply- painted set from Mexico that usually finds a home in our kitchen. There is a larger, European-style set with a stone, castle-like background. There is a Haitian manger scene made of punched tin, and a handmade pine set with silhouettes of Mary & Joseph, Jesus in a manger, and shepherds with sheep very fitting for a Texas-like barn.

I love the way each one of the artists who crafted these pieces chose to tell the story of the incarnation. Each one illustrates that God loved us so much, God chose to stoop down and come among us as one of us. Each one uniquely illustrates the words of one of our Christmas hymns, Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely, love divine; love was born at Christmas: star and angels gave the sign. (Hymn 84)

Yet, each manger scene misses a significant point which is at the core of our annual celebration. Each manger scene beautifies and cleans-up the story we read in Luke. Jesus was neither born in a Texas barn, nor in a European castle. Most likely, Jesus was born in a cave with a dirt floor. It was probably dimly lit by a few oil lamps and smelled of manure. Mary was in a tiny town far away from her extended family. It was not a beautiful setting, but messy and dirty. And that is critically important for us to remember.

Because God sent the Son to be born in a humble, messy place, we can be assured that he will abide with us when our lives are a mess. The Word did not wait to become flesh until humanity had life fully figured out and perfectly ordered. The Son of God comes to abide with us right smack dab in the middle of the messiness and disorderliness of real life. The Christ-child is with us when all is calm, and all is bright. But on those days or weeks when life stinks, and chaos reigns, our best-laid plans are falling apart, and the world around us seems very dark, there too, we will find Jesus and the wonders of his love. And that is the very good news of the incarnation. God chooses to dwell with us in both the joys and the very real challenges of life. So go, tell it on the mountains, over the hills and everywhere, that Jesus Christ is born.

After the 12 days of Christmas are over and it is time to pack up decorations to return to the attic, we might consider leaving out a manger scene, or just the figures of the holy family. Hopefully we will catch a glimpse of them on one of those days when life is chaotic and darkness seems to be trying to close in, and it will remind us that we are not alone. Emmanuel. Our God is with us – especially in the messiest moments.

May you and those you love be filled with love, joy, and peace this Christmas.

Peace,

The Rt. Rev. Dr. David G. Read

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Click here to save a printable copy of Bishop Coadjutor Read's 2023 Christmas Message.