Behold this child......

 “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted...." 

Christmas blessings to all! 

I have to say that I find it curious that Jesus would be referred to as a "sign that will be contradicted" even at His birth, so long before His ministry was to begin. After all, He is the Word Incarnate; the Son of God. During His ministry, He spoke to us as "God With Us" and with all authority. He healed the sick and gave sight to the blind. He even raised the dead! Surely anyone with ears to hear and eyes to see would be compelled to listen and to observe.

 But we are told many times in scripture, that God's ways are not our ways. Who hasn't read a scripture passage and found it to be confusing? Who hasn't read a parable such as the one about the workers in the field, and thought "hey, that's really not fair to pay the workers that labored all day in the hot sun the same wage as those that only worked an hour in the late afternoon?" So many times and in so many ways, our sense of balance is thrown off in the reading of the scriptures. "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you......" 

Yes, the world we live in demands adherence to a different code than that which Jesus gives us. Perhaps it's only natural to question the logic in scripture. There is a clear difference between questioning and contradicting - but even so; like Mary, perhaps we are supposed to ask "How can this be?" 

And maybe that's actually the point; we engage with God when we ask Him such questions. 

May the peace of Christ be with you this Christmas and always,

                                                              + Theophilus