The passage that we read from Revelation seems in order for Christmas eve. It says 'see, I am coming soon'. This passage seems well suited to those churches where fire and brimstone is preached, God as an accountant of sins and self righteousness and hate prevail. Those churches exist. But let's not let us put the cart before the horse. However inspired this passage may be, it is not speaking of the incarnation. It is not speaking of the baby Jesus. Can we just focus on baby Jesus first? It is Christmas eve!
In my mind, the line spoken by Vincent Gardenia as Cosmo Castorini about Johnny Cammareri is actually, "He's just a baby". Its Christmas time and we are celebrating the birth of Christ. He's just a baby and yet, not just a baby. Christmas is speaking to something so simple. Long before Christianity seemed to go haywire with hate, rules and rubrics, self righteousness and mandatory manifestations of piety, there was ( is ) the simplicity of the baby Jesus. We tend to make things more complex than they need to be at times. Baby Jesus is one of them. God became man. Theology aside, not too complex. The message is just as simple. Our salvation is in our humanity, as simple as a baby. We are to be what God created us to be. A human of course, then what else? Gay? Straight? Where do our talents lie? As we grown we learn, discern, love and earn. But we are firs that baby, as simple and pure and filled with potential as the baby Jesus. A blank slate where our biggest concern should be mirroring love, playing peek-a-boo and having no concern over what the next meal is or that the stroller I am in is a Mima Xari or Stokke Trailz. None of that matters! How do we convey in the simplest terms the love and purity of God's love? A baby.
When we start to get older, there will be other things to learn but a baby, The baby Jesus, is perhaps the best way to bring us back to what is truly important and that God loves us on the absolutely and most fundamental of levels, no questions asked, it's as simple as that. Just a baby.
Now, if you want to get into the theology of the incarnation and the life of Christ? A noble effort perhaps and well worth the journey of discovery. Then Jesus is not just a baby. For now? Jesus as just a baby. Simple. Pure. Loving. Adorable. Gift extraordinaire!
Revelation 22:12-17,21
‘See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.’
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practises falsehood.
‘It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.’
The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’
And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.’
And let everyone who is thirsty come.
Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’
And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.’
And let everyone who is thirsty come.
Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.
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