There was one night
when the division of dimensions
was ripped open
and the unthinkable happened.
God, the Spirit, the Word,
took his first breath
as a tiny fragile human,
having spent nine months
in utero, being enfleshed,
now emerging as the maiden’s
painful contractions
pushed him out
into the material world
he had spoken into being.
Incredible! All because of love
for scandalous, rebellious people,
all because justice must be served!
Yes, the heavens ripped open
as the heavenly beings
saw this amazing
joining of God to humanity!
One was sent to reveal the news,
then, for a moment,
those exulting crowds of angels
(overwhelmed by the miracle)
were suddenly visible
and audible—
so while the villagers slept
or huddled indoors,
it was the shepherds
in the fields, on guard,
who saw the messenger,
gasped in wonder
at the sight and the song
of the massive choir
and their message of hope.
This chorus had never been
heard before by human ears,
no one had seen such a mass
of watchers, of singers
from that other dimension.
And then the opening closed.
The world was still, waiting.
But the shepherds had to find
this newborn savior,
whatever that might mean—
who could understand?
who could unravel this mystery?
And they did find him
just as they’d been told,
and were gripped with wonder.
How could they be silent?
Wonder overflowed and so
they told any who would listen.
Did those who heard believe?
Did they think the shepherds mad,
these unimportant workers who said
they’d heard heaven’s angels sing
and had seen the baby
whose birth tore the screen apart?
Do we believe?
Do we comprehend
the true significance
of that bonding so momentous:
heaven and earth,
God and humankind?
I doubt that most of us truly comprehend the deep meaning of God becoming human, but we try and try, and each effort takes us to a place of greater inner tingling and emotional gratitude. First of all, we usually don’t really get the crucial necessity of a perfect sacrifice in order for us to be completely forgiven and made new. God tried to explain this through the detailed laws regarding sacrifice in the Old Testament, and he underlined the necessity of punishment for wrongdoing and his willingness to forgive truly repentant people through the prophets and the way that he dealt with the wicked kings.
We sing “Mary, did you know . . .” to underline our own lack of understanding—we know that she could not comprehend all that was involved with Jesus’s birth. She did not know that he would save her, and all who believed in him, from their sins, that he would be murdered then raised to life to accomplish that. She did know that he would be the powerful loving God-sent one that would bring justice to earth, pulling down the rich, proud rulers and lifting the poor to their rightful place. His attention to her, using her, was a sign of that change that would eventually turn the world upside down. We are still waiting for that to be completed. But Jesus, God the incarnate, is indeed our Rescuer, our Way to being reborn and inheriting eternal life! Her prayer, written in Luke 1, moves me deeply; I can relate to her joyful hope. He is still at work here on this waiting earth:
And Mary said,
“My soul exalts the Lord,
1:47 and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior,
1:48 because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant.
For from now on all generations will call me blessed,
1:49 because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name;
1:50 from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him.
1:51 He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts.
1:52 He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position;
1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty.
1:54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy,
1:55 as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”[1]
[1] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Biblical Studies Press, 2005), Lk 1:46–55.
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