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Luke 2:1-7
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In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (ESV)
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Born to Die
Christmas Eve
24 December 2010
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The older I get the more I fear suffering a meaningless death. I now understand why the well-trained soldier strives for glory in the face of death on the battlefield. What I mean is that much of what we now call end of life care, is merely trying to stay alive in this world. We only give in to death when the last medical remedy finally fails. Dying then only becomes the moment when hope is extinguished. I see this in the useless striving of those who are dying. Perhaps it is indicative of the human condition; holding on to this life with fingernails hanging on. It is understandable. Death is, after all, the last enemy (1Co 15:26). But I don't like it. No, not a bit.
As my life seems to be increasingly meaningless; a striving after the wind (Eccl 1:14), I am beginning to recognize that death must become meaningful, not just a hanging on until the inevitable happens. I believe the faithful martyrs of the church recognized this as they faced the judicial torture and murder forced on them by Roman magistrates enraged by their piety. How else could they have faced their suffering so courageously? They knew that their death meant something because it was joined to His death and confessed the meaning of a death far more potent than their own, a blood far more valuable than their own.
There is a serrated edge to the nativity of our Lord. Yes, it is a beautiful baby story. However, the baby born of Mary is born to die, as we all are. But His death is the most meaningful death because through it life is bequeathed to those whose death would be meaningless without Him. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us that He might be liable to death and defeat through His death our sin and our death. In His death, death does not defeat life, for death cannot hold Him. He is mightier than death. From the resurrection He becomes the first-fruits unto life, so that we who follow after may be partakers of His life.
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Athanasius of Alexandria
"We have dealt as far as circumstances and our own understanding permit with the reason for Christ's bodily appearance. We have seen that to change the corruptible to incorruption was proper to none other than the Savior Himself, who in the beginning made all things out of nothing; that only the Image of the Father could re-create the likeness of the image in men, that none save our Lord Jesus Christ could give to mortals immortality, and that only the Word who orders all things and is alone the Father's true and only-begotten Son could teach men about Him and abolish the worship of idols. But beyond all this, there was a debt owing which must be paid; for, all men were due to die (Rm 6:23). Here, then, is the second reason why that Word dwelt among us, namely that having proved His Godhead by His works, He might offer the sacrifice on behalf of all, surrendering his own Temple to death in place of all, to settle man's account with death and free him from the primal transgression (Gn 3). In the same act also He showed Himself mightier than death, displaying His own body incorruptible as the first-fruits of the resurrection."
Athanasius, On the Incarnation of the Word of God, 20
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Prayer
O Christ, You are the resurrection and the life. Let me die in You, that I might live in You. Give meaning to my death by Your holy birth. Amen.
For those who find it too burdensome to attend services of the Word celebrating the nativity of our Lord, that the Holy Spirit would move them to true faith that they might seek Him who was born for them
For Leslie Doiron, who is suffering ongoing medical issues, that she would be granted healing by her Lord
For President Matthew Harrison of the LCMS that he would be strengthened in his service to the church and find joy in that labor |
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Art: BASSANO Nativity 15th century
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 © Scott R. Murray, 2010
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