It’s the most frequently portrayed scene in all of human history.
Four-year olds sketch out the wise men, sheep, and cattle. Sculptors craft three human figures beneath a simple roof, and we fill in the rest. Churches erect elaborate crèches, some with anxious animals, some with freezing actors. Billions of gilded Christmas cards imagine this one moment in its gentle innocence.
Why does the story of a humble birth 2000 years ago transfix a weary world? Because it is supremely a story of hope, of resistance, of pushing back against the dreadful narrative of death and power and pain. “In Him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it” (John 1:4-5).
Jesus entered this life we live by the low road, though He owns all roads that ever were. He was worshipped—yes, adored—by midnight shepherds stained with mud—men ignored by all the proud and powerful, though He is rightfully worshipped by archangels, universal praise, and choirs. “God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important” (1Cor 1:28).
Jesus always gives Himself to those brought low by circumstance or grief—the poor, the poorly treated, the poor in spirit—the folks who cannot turn the world their way. Beginning from the bottom, He lifts all of us toward heaven.
Embrace this Child. Your hope and joy will also rise.
And you will stay in grace. -Bill Knott
MORE DAY TO DAWN (November 1, 2019)
CROSS PURPOSES (October 25, 2019)
STAYING IN THE RACE (October 18, 2019)
A CIRCLE OF FORGIVENESS (October 11, 2019)
IS IT TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE? (October 4, 2019)
WHEN EVERYTHING CHANGES (September 27, 2019)
SUSTAINABILITY (September 20, 2019)
WHEN POLITICS MISLEADS US (September 13, 2019)
ENVIRONMENTAL TRUTHS (September 06, 2019)
DRENCHED BUT DELIGHTED (August 30, 2019)
UPENDING OUR ECONOMY (August 23, 2019)
UNTIRING GRACE (August 16, 2019)
GRACE UNDER FIRE (August 9, 2019)
THE NUMBER OF FORGIVENESS (August 2, 2019)
THE CHOICE THAT HEALS (July 26, 2019)
THE DAWN OF TRUST (July 19, 2019)
ALL OF GRACE, GRACE FOR ALL (July 12, 2019)
GRACEFULLY WRONG (July 5, 2019)
THE HERO OF THE STORY (June 28, 2019)
PLAYFUL, JOYFUL, WE ADORE THEE (June 21, 2019)
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Hello Heaven Podcast
Cast The Word
Let Me Be Frank | Bishop Frank Caggiano’s Podcast | Diocese of Bridgeport, CT
The Kingdom Power Fellowship Podcast
The Bible Recap
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)