What child is this?
December 19, 2013
No, I’m not thinking of the song, but asking the question literally. What child are we honoring at this season? Certainly we all know the story of the birth of Jesus over two millennia ago, recounted in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Of him, John writes that “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son…” (see chapter 3, verse 16)
Many children were born at the same time. But it is this one child, this harbinger of hope and peace, whose birth we celebrate. We know nothing of the actual delivery of Jesus, only that it called wise men and shepherds and caused angels to announce its glorious promise.
And what is the promise of this child? Certainly Jesus was not a warrior who came to deliver men then and now from dictators or occupiers. Yet his power – the godliness which animated him, to quote Mary Baker Eddy – freed all mankind throughout all time from the oppression of sin, disease, and death, today included. You and me included. (Science and Health page 26)
Is that the child we are acknowledging?
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Cor. 9:16)
Merry Christmas to you all.
Melissa Hayden is a Christian Science practitioner in Salem, OR. You can find more information and additional articles at this link.
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December 19, 2013 at 6:40 PM
Melissa, Thank you for this! Certainly as one who asked that the little children be allowed to come to him, recognizing their innocence and love, Jesus recognized those qualities as God’s own. As you point out, may we see and honor this child at Christmas, and throughout the year, and claim those qualities of innocence and love as our own as well.!!
December 19, 2013 at 8:57 PM
Thanks Pat, how right you are.
December 20, 2013 at 7:18 AM
This beautiful season I would like to share a quote I keep in the front of my Quarterly:
“CHRISTMAS PRESENCE” by Chet Manchester (Journal, December 2012) “As we cherish Jesus’ life-story at Christmas-time, it’s deeply healing to affirm that everything Jesus did on earth, the Christ, God’s eternal Son, continues to do for us individually and collectively: heal us when we’re sick, feed and clothe us, cleanse our inmost thoughts and motives, call us to our mission in life, shepherd us when we’re lost, support us when we’re wavering, love us unconditionally, lift us up when we’re sinking.”
What a beautiful promise that the Christ does all these things for us individually and collectively right now and always.
Thanks so much for sharing your inspirations and have a Joyful, Blessed Christmas!
Lori Marquart
December 20, 2013 at 7:25 AM
Oh Lori, thanks for sharing this great quote from Chet. What a blessing to remember the presence of the Christ here and now. Christmas blessings to you too.
December 21, 2013 at 1:11 PM
Amen. Merry Christmas, Melissa :-)
December 21, 2013 at 4:32 PM
You too Rafikka, thanks.