Nativity Questions

Everyone has questions, especially about the Christmas story: how did that happen, what if Mary said no. Here are some questions, not always the ones we ask, but perhaps ought to ask, the comes from the readings we love in this season, that lead us into the truth of what is happening and waiting to happen on Christmas Eve.

One	The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
Two	It’s not a question you often hear asked, But what is the sound of light?
Three	The yell of joy from a woman holding a plate of food for her hungry children The sound of a key unlocking prison cells The slow crack of ice melting after winter This is the sound of light
One	For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given
Two	It’s not a question you often hear asked, But what is the weight of God?
Three	A loaf of bread freshly baked and broken on the table A cross-bar of wood thick enough to carry a man The half dozen ounces of a baby newly born This are the weight of God
One	Lo the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Two	It’s not a question you often hear asked, But what does an angel look like?
Three	A shepherd brimming with excitement with a story to tell A father holding a new born in awe of the wonder Our enemies waiting for us to accept their help This is what an angel looks like
One	And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Two	It’s not a question you often hear asked, But how far is it to Bethlehem?
Three	A journey of a lifetime but takes only a second As close as your neighbour and as far as your enemy The distance between hope and expectation This is how far it is to Bethlehem
One	and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace
Two	It’s not a question you often hear asked, But what is God’s first name?
Three	The name of every person we oppress, divide or shun The name that holds your name within it The name that proclaims God with us, in us, around us, Emmanuel This is God’s first name
One	She brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Two	It’s not a question you often hear asked, But why was there no room at the inn?
Three	Because the world was too busy to notice Because we choose to build walls between communities and live in fear Because we do not have room to share what we have This is why there was no room at the inn
One	In such questions we find no answers Just the encouragement to live the story And let the promise be born in us