The time of year to reflect on what the meaning of Christmas is

in your family

Beloveds in Christ,

What is central about “Christmas” to you? Fewer than half of

Americans who identify themselves as Christian say the most important

part of Christmas is the birth of Jesus. Of more than 1,000 people

surveyed, 88 percent identified themselves as Christians and only 37

percent of those Christians said that Jesus’ birth is the most

significant aspect of Christmas.

Now, truly beloveds, I am not saying that the mass of Christ

(Christmas) should be the most important thing about our holiday

(holy day). Nor am I a “put Christ back in Christmas” guy, but ...

We witness to the Christmas message when we gather at Bethlehem’s

manger. There we are poised between love’s completion and

frustration, between love’s triumph and tragedy. God’s enfleshment in

Jesus is love’s risk. It is God’s vulnerability. God’s fullness made

empty. God’s richness made poor. God’s ‘otherness’ becoming

‘realness’ -- for us and for our salvation. Our longing for peace,

justice, love, joy and community is enwrapped in that tenderness and

light, warmth and hospitality.

The “power of response” is in our hands -- no less than the “power

of response” lies in the hands of those we love. The birth at

Bethlehem: Will this love be recognized as God’s ultimate

self-disclosure? Will it be reciprocated? Will we take to heart the

words of Athanasius of Alexandria, “He became what we are that he

might make us like he is?” Or will this Christmas love be thwarted

and frustrated through our distractedness? Who can say? We must each

answer for ourselves.

Anais Nin once said, “We do not see things as they are; we see

things as we are.” And maybe the whole question of the triumph or

tragedy of Christmas lies in just how willing we are to let the Holy

Spirit bestow upon us the gift of recognition -- for on our own, we

cannot see it. Chuang Tzu once asked, “Can you talk about the ocean

to a frog in a well?”

During these holidays we may pray for the gift of recognition,

which is the blessing of Christmas. May the Holy Spirit give us eyes

to see the exquisite poignancy of what occurred in the manger, to

enable us to recognize the meaning of Jesus as the holiest, riskiest

sacrament of God’s love there is. And then let our “power of

response” be joy to the world in living the abundant life Jesus comes

to bring.

Yours in Christ,

Peter D. Haynes, Rector

Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church.

Located at Pacific View Drive at Marguerite, Corona del Mar. Call

(949) 644-0463.