We are two days from Christmas, a holiday meant to remind us of the birth of Jesus Christ. For four weeks now we have journeyed through Advent, anticipating the coming of the Lord. The beginning of the gospel is that the Lord does come but in this season of Advent, I am reminded that the Lord comes in humility.

Jesus is not born to an aristocratic family, rather he’s born to parents, Joseph and Mary, who must then must leave their homeland in order to protect Jesus from the murderous rage of King Herod.

The Gospel of John begins by telling us that the Word of God became flesh and made his dwelling among us, in the person of Jesus. This is the coming of the Lord. God chose to dwell among us, to live with us, and in doing so, endure all of the struggles of life that is our life. This choice took Jesus to the cross where he laid down his own life in humility so that we may receive life.

This is the real story of Christmas, the story that reimagines for us what life truly is and what it means to live with hope, peace, joy, and love.

As this Christmas comes, may this story form our lives and inspire us as a church to embody this story among our neighbors. On behalf of Mission Alive, have a Merry Christmas.