who IS this man ..

the christmas story
what a story it is  ..

imagine ..   .      .

the same God that created human in his own image and likeness
steps off his throne
removes his finery
walks away from his majesty
out of heaven's glory ..

creates himself in the image and likeness of human
steps into our world
dons a simple robe of ordinary baby-flesh
on a bed of straw in a stable
   while animals watch and take up the chorus
                          " Allelu-jah !
                                                   Emmanu-el ! "
        echoing the angel host in their own way
.. .     .    .

advent

the Earth receives her king
crying out for his first breath
reaching out for his first touch of the familiar flushed cheek of his mother

flesh-to-flesh
face-to-face
eye-to-eye
God-to-human
human-to-human ..
...   .    .

he gets up during supper
removes his robe            
takes a basin and towel
kneels and washes the feet of his disciples
with her tears

   .. perhaps he learned the freedom of that from her
   for she loved deeply ..

" if I, your lord and teacher, wash your feet,
      you should follow my example and wash each other's feet .. "
" a servant isn't greater than his master;
      and yet i, your master, am among you as a servant .. "

God serving human ..
... .       .    . .  .

and when the time had come
he cried out in agony to be released from it - if it was possible

Earth rejects her king
and abuses his humanity
   such that he is no longer recognizable as a human ..

the image of God is marred beyond recognition

king of kings
servant of servants
lord of lords
loves his own flesh to the very end
. . . . ........   .

adventing

God's in-credible un-believable movement echoes off the walls of Earthstory like some wonderful enduring symphony
and all the cosmos listens awestruck to the never-before-heard melody
.. .     .

and things will never be the same again

..   . . .  .

God serving humanity as human
for the reconciliation of all things ..
things in the Earth
things under the Earth
things outside the Earth ..
all things
for the glory of God
...  ..    . . .
                                               
reconciliation ..

and the circle is completed ..
... .. .      .


advent

coming

to come

come !
o, please come ..


shalom