Everything about the Christmas story is designed to remind us that the birth of Jesus is good news for everyone.
The natural form of this world is to favor those with access to money, power, and privilege. The system is rigged. The rich get richer, while the poor get poorer. This is not a uniquely American problem, be it is easy to see here.
This is yet another reason that it is helpful for us to mark Advent.
The birth of the Christ-child stands in direct opposition to the power patterns in this world. Consider the circumstances of Jesus’ birth.
- Born in humility and disgrace
- Born into poverty
- Born into exile
Could our Champion really turn out to be a nobody from nowhere?
What the Shepherds Knew
The third candle in the Advent wreath is called the Shepherd’s candle. It reminds us of the Joy of Christmas. That the long-awaited coming of the King was announced to shepherds is telling. And their response to this news is even more so. No one needed to remind the shepherds of their station in life. They too were born without access or privilege.
Beyond the amazement that must have accompanied the vision of an entire host of angels singing in an unpolluted sky, the shepherds’ truest wonder must have been bound up in the question.
“Why tell us?”
We can answer their question because we have the evidence of his life.
The Reason for the Shepherd’s Joy
Jesus came for the poor and the marginalized. He came for the lonely and the outcast.
The widow.
The orphan.
The immigrant.
The accused.
If our hearts don’t explode with joy at this news like the shepherds it is because we have failed to see ourselves as falling into one of these categories. There is often a difference between what we know to be true and what we are willing to admit to other people (or to God himself).
How am I doing, you ask? I’m fine. Always fine. Nothing wrong over here. Everything’s great. How about you? Oh, you’re fine too. Wonderful, wonderful.
The pronouncement that the Rescuer has come means nothing if you don’t see yourself as being in need of rescue.
It’s ok though, Jesus has come for those of us who aren’t always fine.
If you understand that the curse of the Garden still echoes in our hearts and in our communities, the arrival of the King should cause our hearts to dance. We should laugh and sing and feast. We should invite people over and give them gifts because we can think of no better way to express the joy of this great, Good News. Our freedom is at hand!
Joy to the world indeed.
