Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12)

Christmas Day - Year B

Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12)

The first 3-1/2 verses here are Christmasy, the rest might be considered a thought experiment gone awry.

G*D spoke to our ancestors, directly and through prophets. G*D speaks still directly and through prophets.

G*D’s speakings are revealed by reflections of G*D. We have one of those reflections in a manger scene. When we look in the manger, what do we see?

How wonderful to see back to creation now recapitulated in a new born. How wonderful to see back to Jesus who trained to further reveal and reflect G*D. How wonderful to see ourselves reflected in a baby’s eyes and responses.

To leave nature out of revelation, doesn’t work. To leave a reflection of G*D out of our experience, doesn’t work. To leave ourselves out of Christmas or any other thin-time, doesn’t work.

Imagine you are a reflection of G*D’s presence. This will bring Christmas to many all through the year.

Imagine you are an exact imprint of G*D’s very being or might becomes such. This will give courage and strength to train well that it might be so.

One way to get at this is to reflect on a verse now omitted from O Little Town of Bethlehem (between now popularized 3rd and 4th verses). How would “church” be different if this was a key verse to sing at Christmas?

Where children pure and happy
    Pray to the Blessed Child
Where misery cries out to Thee
    Son of the Undefiled
Where Charity stands watching
    And Faith holds wide the door
The dark night wakes the glory hearts
    And Christmas comes once more

Prophecy continues. What we do in dark nights wakens hearts and, voila, Christmas!

Christmas comes to call us away from the duality of spirit and flesh, G*D and self, sacred and secular. Christmas calls us to do our part, to give our heart.