Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Boxing Day
Having become aware only recently about liturgical seasons, I'm still getting used to the idea that Christmas extends beyond Christmas Day. I like that, a lot-- there is more of the story to develop, after all.
And so much of that story has to do with issue we care about now. Poverty, of course, is an important part of the story, whether we care to see it or not. And not just the broad subject generally, but the specific idea of transitory poverty, where a family is getting through a rough time; in Jesus's family, it was dislocation, political persecution, and a medical issue (pregnancy) that led them to a manger. Joseph had a trade, after all, and they later seemed to do well, having more children. But that moment-- it must have been humiliating in some ways.
Many families, perhaps most, have some moments like that, the low places. And they are helped by good and generous people. I hope that the message of that is that we are to be those good and generous people-- and that we are supposed to work to address the issues that create that bad moment in the first place.
And so much of that story has to do with issue we care about now. Poverty, of course, is an important part of the story, whether we care to see it or not. And not just the broad subject generally, but the specific idea of transitory poverty, where a family is getting through a rough time; in Jesus's family, it was dislocation, political persecution, and a medical issue (pregnancy) that led them to a manger. Joseph had a trade, after all, and they later seemed to do well, having more children. But that moment-- it must have been humiliating in some ways.
Many families, perhaps most, have some moments like that, the low places. And they are helped by good and generous people. I hope that the message of that is that we are to be those good and generous people-- and that we are supposed to work to address the issues that create that bad moment in the first place.
