Bloody, Yet Peaceful Advent to All

Tomorrow marks the advent of Christ's Mass, a yearly ritual in which Christians celebrate the birth of the God-man on whom they have placed the hope of salvation from our human condition.

A lot of people really enjoy this Holiday a lot more than Easter because unlike the crucifixion, the lowly manger scene with the angels and the shepherds and the three wise men represents opportunity and anticipation rather than the stench of death. It's a lot easier to celebrate Baby Jesus, the infant, than it is to celebrate the carnage of the nail-pierced, flogged, bloodied Jesus with a crown of thorns piercing His brow and chunks of meat hanging from his back.

But even Jesus' birth is a messy affair. He's born to newlyweds under questionable circumstances- practically seen as a bastard child. He's hunted by the King of Israel and barely escapes the slaughter of innocent babies that Herod undertakes, just in case the rumors of a New King are true. And then there's the fact that He's born into a nation that's living as conquered people. I think the closest thing that we could compare it to would be US occupied Iraq- a place where violence is rampant and zealots who hate the occupying forces are ready to use whatever force necessary to drive out "the oppressors."

There is a feeling that everything could fall apart at any moment. And that's the story that Christ is born into. It's a story that's a mess.

Kind of like the world we find ourselves in today.

That said, this year I have a new perspective on the nativity. I, too, have a newborn son who has been born into some rather interesting times. Sure, our economic, political, and social state are not nearly as bad as the story that Christ was born into (especially considering that as US citizens, we're more like the Roman Empire rather than occupied Israel), but things are uncertain and messy nonetheless. And for some reason, even in the midst of crazy economy, the potential of life that's represented in Ethan- this bundle of energy and passion- makes me very peaceful and hopeful.

There's a relentless optimism about new life that's represented in a baby. That's why older folk fawn over him in the grocery store and why everyone wants to hold him and see him smile.

Babies create hope because they're a clean slate, a chance for something new and different. This is a perfect symbol of what Christ represents. There is an old way of doing things- an old law that's been set within the human condition. We strain against it and see nothing but frustration in our lives. But then comes along a new way- Christ calls it a New Kingdom.

Tomorrow is a time to celebrate Jesus. But it's also a time for us to wrap ourselves in the New Kingdom.It's a time to reevaluate what we do with our finances and begin using what we own to lift oppression rather than enslave ourselves in debt. It's a time to rethink our relationship with work and with our coworkers and with our friends & family. And most it's a time to realize that there's a NEW and BETTER way to approach God.

A baby is one of the best symbols of hope and optimism that we could ever find. This Advent, let's embrace that symbol and revitalize our own lives to correspond with the New Kingdom that was born with Christ's entry into our humanity.