Do we see the love or the tradition?

 In our portrayals of the Christmas story we tend to forget a few things. The first and foremost thing we forget is the setting of the story as we have been blinded by the imagination of a western tradition of inns and stables. The second and perhaps more important thing that we forget are the dramatis personae i.e. those taking part and their relevance to our understanding of the whole. Lastly the final thing that we often forget about, and this is in reality because we do not want to consider it, is the driving force behind the story and who it was addressed to and for what purpose. In addressing the last of these we have to recognise that it was to a 'young' movement who had little idea with regards the Christ or any of the story that surrounded the crucifixion. In some respects the Lukan pericope of the birth and the events leading to the birth are probably fictitious rather than factitious. It along with the conflicting elements found in Matthew are purposively created for the new followers so that they have an understanding as to the theological back story tied into Christ. This helped the understanding of the initial readers of the text, or rather hearers, to come into faith. Does the fictitious nature of the story detract from it? The answer for our purposes, as we celebrate tonight and tomorrow is no. It sets a theological scene by which we come to understand the importance of the incarnation in our lives much as it did for the original listeners to the tale. Yet, we need to remind ourselves that this is its purpose and not over inflate our ideas.

For us as we hear the story told this night and in the morning it opens up our imaginations as to the possibility of God's presence in our hearts. The actors and players in the drama are just as important as these imply that a whole community is one that accepts disparate and reviled members alongside the fortunate and, in the long term, the rich and famous. It is this that we celebrate tonight the formation of community around something that is new and refreshing in times of trouble. New birth is always celebrated but too often we maintain that celebration in house so to speak and only leak it out gradually. In the ancient past the birth of a child was celebrated by the whole community not just a small part of it. We have forgotten in today's world that new life should be celebrated and is not something that is forgotten within hours as we get back to our daily lives. It is a time of joy and peace that brings people together in community rather than dividing. This is the reality of the incarnation in this place at this time. It has an ongoing meaning as we struggle in our own lives seeking that initial joy and love as the world impinges on our own and God's will.

Adoration of the shepherds - do we adore the art or the actuality?

What about place? Is there a significance about the place this action takes place over and above the intended theological significance of David and David's line? Once again in looking at this we have to delve past the Western ideological elements that have coated the story since its translation into Western languages. These have so overwhelmed the actuality of the setting that we have lost sight of its fuller meaning. Translators had no other word or rather could not conceive of a more appropriate word to use in translation but inn. Thus we have meandered of the real setting of the story and its theological push towards divine love. The inhospitable or compassionate (depending on your view) inn keeper who shoves the distressed couple to the barn is very European in concept and artwork. The reality is a small family home that is typical of the ME with an attached room for the animals that provides warmth to the remainder of the house during the cold months. The main room is separated from the animals by the mangers that provide food for the animals within easy reach of the human occupants. The guest room (translated as inn) obviously already filled by grannies and aunties due to the influx as a result of the census. The baby comes in the midst of this love of human warmth and reception.

What do we take away? Well perhaps what we are meant to...that love comes in all forms from the family to the community and it is accepting of all peoples in the wider context of the time and within our own time. It points us again and again towards the incarnate love that is present in all human souls should we begin by loving ourselves  our neighbours and our God (however we may conceive that word).