Heaven Could Not Hide Its Joy

                                        Heaven threw a shivaree that night;

A loud, boisterous, serenading celebration

to welcome

A child.  A baby.

We all know the story. 

We hear it repeated this night every year.

A story about a young couple, expecting their first born,

doing their civic duty, traveling to register

in the husband’s hometown,

as the census and the law required.

Outside of her swollen belly,

there must have been nothing

about them that stood out;

no conspicuous traits that marked them as favored.

Perhaps if a halo of light had circled about their heads,

there would have been room for them

in the inn after all.

But nothing in their manner shouted,

"Holy!”

So in some outlying, unexpected place 
their child gulped his first breath and

cried his first cry.

Maybe none would have known

that he had arrived,

that this pairing was now

a family.

But heaven could not hide its joy.

Gabriel’s earlier visits

must have blazed a celestial trail.

For once the first winged messenger

shared the news with some

shepherds sitting with their flocks,

the night sky filled with

host after heavenly host.

A chorus of voices.

A throng of wings.

Their light and song so bright

even the stars were consumed

by their radiance.

Heaven could not hide its joy

for this baby born in the usual way.

Yet that is what makes this story

so extraordinary

so amazing

so filled with grace,

because on that night

God inhabited the ordinary.

God took on the human,

God took on us,

with all of our frailties and failings

our suffering and our sorrows,

everything that makes us

weak,

vulnerable,

ordinary.

On that night

God entered in and

mystery and mortality met,

became flesh

and dwelt among us.

On this night, this holy night,

we remember not just a birth

centuries old and long ago.

We remember that our God

is a God of promise.

We remember that the promise made then

continues in this now,

and will remain in faithfulness tomorrow.

Our God,

who called substance and shape out of chaos,

light out of the deepest darkness,

bridged the chasm we caused

between us and Him

with his own flesh and blood.

He came into our lives

to give us love,

life.

He came to remind us that

His promise is sure.
The darkness we stumble in

will not overwhelm us.

It was and is and will be

pierced with His glorious,

wonderful,

amazing,

extraordinary

LIGHT!

Wherever and whenever

 A child is born,

Wherever and whenever

love is welcomed,

hope reborn,

peace pursued,

God’s promise rings out.

God is with us.

God is with us.
Heaven cannot hide its joy.

Alleluia!  Amen.