Joy to the world

There is brokenness in Jesus' birth taking place in a stable ... Yet, something fantastic has happened

By Fr. Joseph Curcio, S.F.M.
December 2007

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You might have heard about or even remember the Battle of London when Hitler daily sent hundreds of bomber planes over the city. People took the bus to get to hospitals, feeding stations and so on, in the midst of danger and poverty. When I was in London prior to going to France, I traveled on the bus and noticed the sad and silent faces of worn out men and women. One day, a young mother boarded carrying a lively, wide-awake baby who smiled at all the passengers. The baby captured everyone's attention. Some called out to her. Others made comments about her beauty and charm. It was such a contrast to the realities of war: death, destruction, sorrow. We were all smiles.

There is something about a baby: the innocence, the tenderness, the beauty, the love symbolized. Well, this is so much like the purpose of the coming of the baby Jesus, Child of Mary, into our broken world, a world that finally crucified that helpless Babe of Bethlehem. We know, of course, that sin did not have the last word after all. Grace survived. Grace grew and continues to expand in human hearts in a thousand different ways.

There is power in weakness, in a helpless Christmas child. What a paradox that a babe in a manger should be called "Mighty God" (Isaiah 9:6)j. Even as a baby, Jesus revealed power. His birth affected the heavens with the appearance of the star, causing the Magi to leave their homes and make the long journey to Bethlehem. Their news shook King Herod and his friends. Jesus' birth brought angels from heaven and simple shepherds from their fields and flocks. Truly, midnight became as bright as midday as the glory of God appeared within our darkness.

But the reality – a stable, the brokenness, the failure, the weakness, the smell, the rejection, the inhumanity – mixed with a big helping of heaven gives the most remarkable scene beyond all telling. There is brokenness in Jesus' birth taking place in a stable and his being placed in a feeding trough. Yet, something fantastic has happened – the Creator of Heaven and Earth is there in the flesh of a human mother. Evil, suffering, hurt and hate have been overcome by all that is good here where Heaven and Earth meet... "on Earth, as it is in Heaven."

It is a new creation – a new Heaven and a new Earth. It is a joy within and around us. It is a mystery that we enter into, one that is impossible to describe. We can only live it.

Today Mary and Joseph continue to look for an inn. Will we receive them this morning when they come knocking at our door?

May all our sisters and brothers throughout the world share in the joy, hope and blessing of Christmas.

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