Natal Day

Last night here we rejoiced in the mystery of the incarnation… what a wonder it is that the spark of divine light and the life of God became flesh and came to dwell among us in the midst of our human lives and needs. And that is a big part of what we, as Christians, celebrate at Christmas time, the theological wonder of God-made-flesh. This is the feast of the Incarnation. But it is also the Feast of the Nativity. In addition to the mystery of the Incarnation, we also celebrate the very tangible birth of a baby. Today is Jesus’ birthday. I cringe a little bit to say that; it sounds so Hallmark. But this is the day when Christ was born. And that is certainly an occasion for celebration.

Today is Jesus’ birthday. And in our carols, manger scenes, and other remembrances we focus on that actual event, the historical day of his birth 2006 years ago. It’s story worth remembering and telling, filled with the drama at the inn, singing choirs of angels, adoring shepherds and mysterious foreigners bearing gifts (who, it occurs to me, would never make it through security post 9/11).

But it is mostly the story of a baby’s birth. And the most important part of that story is what that baby’s birth will mean for our lives. Just like the birth of any child, the birth of this child will change the lives of everyone around him, everyone who comes to know him. As of today, there is a new element in our lives, a new person right in the middle of everything. In the middle of our homes, our families, our activities… there is another person to consider. I have never raised a child. Many, though not all of you, have. (I have raised a very active, very demanding puppy.) In any case, you know or can imagine that a new baby in the house affects every minute of every day. Jesus has been born into our lives today. That should affect every thing we do, every plan we make. We have to take baby Jesus (not just a baby… a baby who’s God) along now everywhere we go. We have to share everything we do with God. Babysitters aren’t really an option. Talk about having to be careful in front of the kids! Everything we do or say will be seen and shared by God now that baby Jesus has been born into our lives.

Something to ponder.

Focusing on this day as a day of birth brings another theme to the fore. When a child is born, it is a time for looking forward. It is a beginning. The beginning of that child’s new life, of course, but much more importantly in this case, the beginning of a relationship. The past really fades away. All that matters in this relationship is the future. And, of course, there is no going back. But who would want to? We have so much to look forward to. So many wonderful times and experiences ahead to share. Hopes to fulfill. Dreams to pursue together. A blessed future lies ahead, beginning today with Jesus’ birth.

In our regular lives, when we celebrate birthdays, typically it is not so much the actual, historical events of our date of birth that we remember. And today’s collect reminds us that this holy day of the nativity is an ongoing, yearly celebration. Today we celebrate not just the day on which Jesus was born, but we celebrate the 2006^th of Jesus’ birthdays, more or less depending on how the calendar works. So aside from telling and retelling the old story of the angels and the lowing cattle and the bleary eyed shepherds, how do we celebrate this annual birthday?

I think about what we celebrate in our regular everyday human lives when we celebrate birthdays. Except for the very young and the very old, I don’t think it’s the passing of the years that we celebrate. The significance of the occasion does not lie in the fact that we have lived another year. In fact, we often avoid that bit. It’s not really the anniversary of our birth that we cherish. One of the things that we do celebrate in annual birthday celebrations is our joy, our gratitude for a life shared… shared with others. When parents give a birthday party for a very young child, it is meant at the deepest, non-verbal level to let that child know how blessed the parents feel to have the child as part of their life. We have birthday parties to celebrate the connections, the relationships that are a part of our own particular, individual lives. Birthdays, maybe more than any other day, any other holiday, are very lonely days to be alone. (I’m not fishing for invitations. No one in parish ministry is ever alone, even when they are by themselves. And I mean that today in a very positive sense.)

The annual celebration of Jesus’ birthday. A time to celebrate his connections, friendships, relationships. What might we want to plan by way of commemoration, celebration for that event? What would we like to offer him on his birthday… as a gift from us? How might we want to convey to him what it means to us that he is a part of our lives? And, on the other hand, what do you imagine he might want for his own birthday celebration? And let’s imagine Jesus now as an adult so we can steer clear of the whole Brunswick Zone/Medieval Times/Chucky Cheese scenario.

What gift would you like to give Jesus on his birthday? What would he like to receive? I think the answer is something, whatever it may be, that comes from the very best of ourselves. Whatever that is, our best… to offer it to Jesus as gift… to share it with him. The best of yourself. Your point of richest joy… purist generosity… simplest love… deepest peace… most awesome wonder… offer them up to Jesus on his birthday in celebration of the blessing of living a life shared with him.

And if we were planning some sort of birthday party for Jesus, whom would he wish to have invited? There are a few passages in Scripture that are relevant. Jesus tended to celebrate with outcasts, the poor, just about anybody gathered up off the street. He longed for people to come to know him. And we might do well to remember that we have a role to play in inviting others into his company. Who do you know whom you would like to meet Jesus?

And remember, of course, that you are always invited. You are always invited to Jesus’ birthday parties… all of Jesus’ parties. When I talk with very young children about Holy Communion I sometimes use the image of a birthday party and I tell them Jesus has invited them all and he really, really wants them to come. He wants each one of them to be there with him at his party. Jesus’ yearning is deep to welcome us into his fellowship, to share his celebration with us. These decorations around us don’t look much like a typical birthday party, but they are festive. Today is clearly a very special event. It is Jesus’ birthday and Jesus has invited us all to his celebration. It is glorious to be here.