Robin

I am a reasonably organised sort of person. But, having been reminded that there are only 10 shopping days until Christmas, I find myself having a little panic moment worrying whether or not I will be ready. Am I sure I’ve bought everyone their gift? Am I certain that I didn’t give George Jamie Oliver’s 15 minute meals last year? Is my carefully tended spread sheet of Cards “received” and “sent” up to date and are all the addresses current? Have I made sure I have a spare pressie for that “just in case” moment when someone – probably Jim again -  turns up at 11pm on Christmas eve with a bottle of wine? 


Sometimes it seems that the run up to Christmas has become more about struggling to fulfil some personally created schedule, than being a time for spiritual reflection. If my experience is common-place, I can understand why it is easy to forget the true meaning of the season. 
But just how much is myth and how much is true about how we understand the Christmas story? So a test for you dear listener…How many of these statements are true? 


• Jesus was born on 25th December, just after Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem
• In the stable there were four types of animals 
• Three wise men visited Jesus within those first few days


Well? …In fact none of them is true. 
Nowhere does the Bible record that Jesus was born on the day Mary and Joseph arrived and their arrival date is unknown. If the shepherds were outside with lambs it was unlikely to have been December. The Bible refers to a manger or stall and not a stable and apart from the donkey (which wasn’t necessarily little), animals are never mentioned. There were three gifts, not three kings, in fact they weren’t even kings and it is likely that they didn’t visit Jesus until he was 2 years old, just before the family left for Egypt. 


The fact that we have come to believe these myths shows the power of images, tradition, custom and practice in moulding our views and even creating our understanding of truth. In the same way, people’s views of religion, faith and God has been moulded and conditioned through images, tradition, custom and practice. So, when those who wrestle with the idea of God and faith have their views reinforced by continuing to experience prejudice and discrimination at the hands of people of faith, you can understand how those views are confirmed. 


On that first Christmas, God reached out in love, unconditional love, to men and women of all faiths and none. No strings attached, no hidden agenda, no ulterior motive involved, only the hope that by experiencing true, selfless love in action, people might just begin the journey back to Him again. The baby in the hay is the sign of a vulnerable, giving God.. and that’s no myth!