O Lord, you have created all!
How did you come to be so small?
To sweetly sleep in manger-bed
Where lowing cattle lately fed?
From Heaven Above,
by Martin Luther 1483-1546
Her family brought her to be baptized; little did they know that she would be typecast to be the Christ-child in our annual Christmas pageant. I mention typecast because not only was she small and adorable, but during her baptism, to paraphrase the familiar Christmas carol, Away in a Manger,
“no crying she made.”
Her name is Lillian Jean; we affectionately referred to her as Lillian ‘Jesus’ as she was tenderly cradled in the arms of Mary (Elsa Lunde), while Joseph (Ezra Lunde) sat close by in calm fatherly support. It was one of those amazing Christmas moments when our reflections of faith were held transfixed by the beauty of a little baby and the sweet adoration of a young girl.
I could see the parents and sponsor of Lillian getting tears in their eyes up in the front pew. I heard the sighs and ahhs of many others behind me as they were held by this sight. My congregation found out that I am just a pushover for a program that combines children, babies and God’s Word. Hand the pastor a box of Kleenex, please! We joked that if we just had some puppies there too… .
I was almost undone by the time the children stood up to sing “Silent Night.”
How beautiful and softly powerful it was.
I am quite aware that to some this may sound like sentimentality and nostalgia. I’ll wear that proudly. And I’ll add that I stand in a long tradition of those who marvel at the wonder of this event. As I saw the tinsel haloed angels, the bath-robed shepherds, and the paper-crowned three kings I found myself drawn not only into warm emotions, but also into deep theological reflection. The lyrics of another who also was captivated by this amazing event resonated in my heart. Martin Luther wrote one of my all time favorite Christmas hymns, From Heaven Above.
I quoted the ninth verse above. I quote the twelfth verse below. It is a hymn that reveals the pondering and marveling Luther did as he thought about the miracle of the nativity and the mystery of the incarnation. That question which Luther posed in his hymn, “How did you come to be so small?” echoes in my thoughts each Christmas. The mystery of the incarnation of God is simply stunning and amazingly touching.
During the beauty of Christmas Eve services I am always taken by the recognition that we are celebrating the mystery of the Creator of all entering into personal relationship with each by being “born of woman.” It is both stunning and touching. It is both intellectually challenging and emotionally moving. It is Christmas, and the presence of children and babies only accentuates for me the reality of what God did.
I am so very grateful for all the children and their families who have filled the sanctuaries around the world with their joy. Thank you for bringing the kids to church. And I hope that during this silent night and holy night, as all sing about the birth of a baby, that each of you will be touched in your heart of hearts and you will experience “love’s pure light.” I hope that as you sing, you will see a baby or a young child sitting close to you, and that your mind will spin at the magnitude of God’s mystery, even as your heart is warmly stirred by the gentle closeness of the Spirit.
For you parents I offer friendly Christmas advice, linger by a manger scene with your children, and talk about the One who created heaven and earth choosing a manger for a crib. Share a quiet moment and invite your children to join you in the ancient tradition of marveling with Mary, so that they too might treasure all these words and ponder them in their hearts.
Ah, dearest Jesus holy child,
Prepare a bed, soft, undefiled,
A quiet chamber in my heart,
That you and I may never part.
Each month a member of the
Cook County Ministerium will
offer Spiritual Reflections. For
December, our contributor is
Reverend Mark Ditmanson of
Bethlehem Lutheran Church in
Grand Marais.
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