Sacred Questions At ChristmasSample

A BABY LYING IN A MANGER

Begin by taking a few breaths and paying attention to the air moving in and out of your lungs and mouth. Notice where you feel tension or discomfort in your body. To the extent you are able, try to relax, let the chair you are sitting in fully support your body, and release the tension as you breathe deeply. 

A Prayer to Open

Here I am, Lord,

in my tired, aging, hurting, wondrous body.

Open my heart to you now.

You are my High Priest who knows.

Read Scripture Passage

Reflect

Mary gave birth to Jesus—to God with us. We have no reason to believe that the birthing process was unique or less painful than any other birth. And as was required under the Jewish law, Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day of his life, as any other male baby would have been circumcised. How rare it is for us to think of Jesus this way: as a little baby, with little baby parts, treated like any other Jewish boy of his time.

• What words and images come to mind when you think of a human baby having just been born? 
• Why do you think it was important for Jesus to have come to us this way instead of simply having appeared as an adult? 
• Reflect on the reality that God came to be with us through the normal human birthing process, was vulnerable and crying, and was born with a penis, as every other human boy has been born. What does this truth reveal to you about God’s love? What does it reveal about Jesus’ ability to identify with you?

Respond 

Jesus Christ—

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace;

the one through whom and for whom all things were made; and

the one in whom I live and move and have my being—

became flesh and made your dwelling among us. 

And nothing—neither death nor life, angels nor demons, the present nor the future; not any powers, height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation—can separate me from the love of our God, which is in you, Jesus Christ my Lord.