Christmas Eve
Luke 2.1-20
St. Gregory’s, Long Beach
Live Streamed
on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 55:35)
What
is the quintessential image of what we celebrate this night? The image that
captures, as much as is possible, what this night is all about. While the
answer varies by individual, there is a high probability that most would say it
was the creche, depicting the moments following Jesus’ birth. You have to
admit, the creche does have it all. The newborn Jesus lying in a manger under
the watchful and protective gaze of Mary and Joseph; surrounded by various
animals, such as cows, sheep, and oxen; all attracting the attention of
shepherds, who have heard from an angel: “I am bringing you good news of great
joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
who is the Messiah, the Lord.” As much as any image, the creche is a depiction
of what would by all accounts be considered a “Kodak moment.”
Although
truth be told, the real scene of what happened with the birth of Jesus was
probably far from a Kodak moment. What we see depicted in nativity scenes is
really an idealized, sanitized version that is far removed from reality. In
actuality, the scene would have not been quite so lovely. In fact, it was
probably pretty disgusting. This was a stable, after all. The place where
animals ate, slept, and, well, performed other bodily functions. A dirt floor,
strewn with filthy straw and waste—from the resident animals, as well as the
birth that had just occurred. The manger in which the baby was laid was nowhere
near sanitary, being the feeding trough for animals. Rather than brightly lit,
the stable would have been dark and dingy. If Mary and Joseph were even lucky
enough to have light in their makeshift accommodations, it would have been a
small oil lamp, at best. And while not a feature of nativity scenes, the smell
would have probably been pretty overwhelming. All in all, a far cry from the
labor and delivery unit at Long Beach Memorial.
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