And the Word became flesh

A trip to Bethlehem several years ago inspired me to purchase a new nativity set hand carved from the wood of olive trees grown in the Holy Land. Having that set brings a piece of the traditional birthplace of Jesus into my home. Even though I love my new nativity set, I will never part with the set I had as a child, even though its star has lost most of its glitter, even with its kitschy angels that glow in the dark.

Nativity sets and manger scenes have been a popular part of our Christmas traditions since the first one was established by St. Francis of Assisi in the central Italian town of Greccio in 1223. They adorn churches, homes, and public venues and are made from materials as simple as paper or as elaborate as entire villages such as those found in countries like Italy and Mexico. In some places, people create living Nativity scenes, where live animals and humans reenact the story of the birth of Jesus.

For many, these scenes bring joy and comfort--the joy of a newborn child along with the comfort that God’s promise has been fulfilled. As beautiful and as peaceful as they are, nativity scenes tell only part of the story of the Incarnation. Hints of the rest of that story are offered in the Blessing of a Christmas Manger or Nativity Scene from the Book of Blessings.

“God of every nation and people, from the very beginning of creation

you have made manifest your love: when our need for a Savior was great

you sent your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary.

To our lives he brings joy and peace, justice, mercy, and love.

Lord, bless all who look upon this manger; may it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus,

and raise up our thoughts to him, who is God-with-us and Savior of all,

and who lives and reigns for ever and ever.”

This blessing tells me that the coming of Christ is for all people and that through Christ, I am forever connected with everyone. It tells me that the coming of Christ was part of God’s plan from the very beginning of creation. It teaches me that Jesus manifests God’s pure, simple and steadfast love. The blessing reminds me that if God comes through ordinary human beings like Mary, God can break through my ordinary life and can come in ways surprising and wondrous. The text tells me that when I surrender, like Mary, to God’s will, I, too, can bear the Christ. I, too, can be a vessel of joy and peace, justice, mercy, and love.

I notice that this blessing isn’t directed to God. “Bless all who look upon this manger;” God doesn’t need my blessing, but I sure need God’s blessing. God has come not for God’s sake, but for the sake of humankind.

This blessing reminds me of the humble and chaotic circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus. Jesus was conceived in an unmarried woman and when born, he was placed in a feeding trough reserved for animals. After his birth, his family was forced to flee a jealous king who planned to kill him. Despite these circumstances, God chose to be born anyway. This strengthens me to bear witness to God’s presence even when my life is marked by humble chaos.

The blessing ends with the sure and certain hope of the Incarnation.

May we who adorn our homes and churches with nativity sets remember that Christmas is not only about the celebration of the birth of the baby Jesus 2000 years ago, but rather that God became flesh and lives with us now, today, forever.