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Christmas Day What
would the birth of Jesus look like if it happened today here in New Zealand?
An artist called Jan Hynes has painted some pictures which might help us
imagine the story as it might have occurred today here in New Zealand.
Perhaps in this imagining we might find some truths embedded in the story
that speak into our lives in relevant ways. Look carefully at the image moving from right to left. Notice the details. The pregnancy test has come back positive. Pregnancy was a tremendous surprise to Mary. Not what she expected or wanted. As a single woman, pregnant in her culture, her life and future was potentially ruined. Even today there are those who would struggle to discover they are pregnant- those in unstable relationships, too young, raped, in war zones, no money or in disaster areas. Now not all of us are struggling with an unwanted pregnancy, but at some stage each of us will have to tackle unwanted news that will radically change our lives. If you are faced with unwelcome news this Christmas then perhaps the challenge you and indeed for all of us is, how do we allow God to incarnate our bad or difficult circumstances that he might through us make the world a more beautiful, more loving and more truthful place? 2. Mary shares her
troubles with her Cousin Notice the details. The artist has depicted Mary and Elizabeth meeting in a specific café in her home town. They enjoy a trim decaf flat white and carrot cake together. The Spirit of God is represented by the sea gull. God is present in the ordinary places and experiences of life as well as the bigger ones. What may be a surprise or shock to us is never outside the presence of God. Expectations can be heavy on us at this time of year. People can feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the pressures and challenges of their lives. It is a truism that a burden shared is a burden halved. Jesus said: “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” If we are to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world, perhaps one way we can offer to do that is to be good listeners for someone who is burdened. Perhaps words of
encouragement and the support of just hearing someone out, might bring
healing and life to a friend or acquaintance. The gift of listening, may
well be the best present your friend in need receives from you this
Christmas! Look carefully at the image from left to right. Notice what is in the painting. See Mary reading up on home birthing which incidentally proves to be a good thing! Whose perspective is the painting from? Joseph often gets overlooked in this story. In fact he had all of the responsibility with none of the pleasure! He acts selflessly and without judgment even before God tells him what is going on. Is there a situation in your life that might be helped if you were to view it from a different perspective? What might happen were you to view that situation from someone else’s perspective? There is a well-known saying that goes, ‘Don't judge a man till you have walked two moons in his moccasins.’ I think we can learn much about compassion and grace from Joseph in the way we treat those we love, our families in particular. Let us pray for the grace,
insight and courage to see the situations or conflicts or decisions
affecting our lives from a different perspective, perhaps someone else’s
perspective. It is bonding time at the petrol station. A shell is an ancient symbol of pilgrimage and journey. Mary is holding a bag on which is written ‘blood saves lives’. What other symbols of or preparations for a journey are in the painting? Their journey will be sudden and unexpected. Dislocation and dispossession are thrust on many people in our world. See the disaster last week as those poor refugees drowned when their boat sank at Christmas Island. Today we are thankful for our homes. Let us not forget to pray for those dislocated by war famine disaster, poverty loss of work or other circumstances. Remembering that Christ came · “to set the prisoners free · to save that which is lost, · to bind up the broken hearted, · to strengthen the weak and · to bring sight to the blind,” Is there anyone you can welcome home this Christmas season? |
