Christmas I

So look at little Anointed, “born under the conditions of the law,” a child of Adam as you and I suited with flesh and bone, but for this mysterious One it is the adorning of “a bridegroom… as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers, and as a garden cascades with blossoms, so the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloom and puts praise on display before the nations.”

So let the bride, you and me, all of creation, “praise the name of God— it’s the only Name worth praising. His radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky; he’s built a monument—his very own people!” Your builder is your bridegroom, all you “intimate friends of God. Hallelujah!”

So we come to the close of this chapter with an opening into celebration! Our hero not only announced with a wondrous star and otherworldly angelic choirs, but by a faithful old man, “With my own eyes I’ve seen your salvation; it’s now out in the open for everyone to see: A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, and of glory for your people Israel.” And with this profound celebration comes the sober realization: tHis-story once again unfolds at our feet, as it did for Mary when he followed with these words, “and a sword will pierce your soul too.”