What Brings You to the Manger?

One late afternoon, around about the 26th of November, after arriving in Bethlehem our CPT delegation met up at the Church of the Nativity.

The Church of the Nativity is built over and surrounding the place where it is recorded that Mary gave birth to her firstborn - as son: Jesus. Essentially, the Church of the Nativity marks the place where Christianity began, with the humble - and at the time, seemingly inconsequential - birth of a Jewish baby to devout Jewish parents.

Throughout the ages, the Church of the Nativity has never lost its significance in the eyes and hearts of Christians. Today, it stands as a testament, not only to Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and the Magi, but also to all of the church and political leaders, the monastic orders and monks, the crusaders and pilgrims who have revered it and idolized it and adorned it in as many ways as possible, so that each visitor might find something personally moving in its story.

I would suggest that, at its most religious and spiritually captivating, the Church of the Nativity is a sacred pilgimage site. And, I would suggest that, at its least flattering, the Church of the Nativity - with its columns and mosaics and lamps, and the Grotto and its gift shops and tours - the Church of the Nativity is little more than a photo-op and a check mark on a vacation To-Do list.

To say that I was somewhat cynical during my brief visit to the Church of the Nativity might be an understatement.Now granted, I totally trust the cliche that says we only get out of an experience as much as we're willing to put into it, but my visit to the Church of the Nativity was not very inspiring. And, I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't get more out of it, as it is impossible to know whether or not I will ever have the opportunity to return.

But then, I think about the night of December 24th and the reasons that draws us into churhes and places of worship. In some ways, it seems to me that in our coming from our homes on Christmas Eve, to worship in a church sanctuary - to celebrate the Nativity - is liken to a pilgrimage. In some ways, it seems to me that the metaphor our church sanctuaries embrace on Christmas Eve is that of the Grotto - the place where it all began.

But what is it that brings you to the manger, really?

Do you come out of reverence? If so, reverence for whom or for what?

Do you come out of obedience or a sense of responsibility to some kind of long-standing, unexplained family tradition - because it's something we always do?

Do you come because you want to party? It's Christmas; do we always need a reason to party?

Do you come on some sort of quest? Are you looking or searching for something? Are you in need of answers to some difficult questions? Are you trying to understand what all the hype is about? Are you hoping for some kind of spiritual revelation?

Do you come to pray? Do you come, just to be? Perhaps there's a hope, though not an expectation, that you will encounter the Holy? Perhaps you'll meet an angel? Perhaps you'll see the star?

What is it that brings you to the manger?

We might have one or two, or many reasons for being drawn to the manger on Christmas Eve. Truth be known, the only person we have to justify why we come too, is our self.

All that I would suggest is that our participation in the celebration of Christmas began with a promise. It began with a promise from God - a promise revealed in the birth of a child. A child that would be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace. A child that would have such hope placed upon him, that throughout the world people would experience an almost primal need to remember him. People would experience such a powerful sense of needing to remember that they would be drawn back to the promise, back to where it all began, back to the manger. And there, amidst the straw and the bands of cloth, they would discover again the news of great joy that offers peace and love, to all.

Blessings,

Rob.

(This post was the body of my reflection at the Christmas Eve services in Gainsborough and Carievale.)