And in those days Caesar Augustus proclaims he was conceived by the god Apollo in the womb of his mother Atia. He is called the "Son of God", "Savior", "Lord" and bringer of "peace on earth." His image is inscribed on coins and religious leaders call for obedience to the "King of Kings."The Gospel of Luke, a political manifesto, begs to differ.
Jesus is the child born of God, and his mother proclaims he comes to bring the powerful down from their thrones, lift the lowly, feed the hungry and the rich will be sent away empty. Angels proclaim to shepherds that unto them a savior is born, "Christ the Lord" who will bring peace on earth.
His first followers see Jesus as the alternative to an empirical world based on injustice and violence.
It's funny though because original beginning of the Gospel is "in the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea and Herod the assistant governor of Galilee ..." introducing the key figures, political enemies, who orchestrate Jesus murder (Luke 3:1).
Luke never refers back to the Nativity indicating it serves another purpose, namely to level the playing field by stating God prefers the poor and lowly over the wealthy and powerful and how this is what real power is about.
Centuries later, we celebrate the birth of Jesus by remembering the poor by serving or delivering food to the hungry, visiting the sick, volunteering with the needy and tossing change into Salvation Army kettles.
It's the remaining vestiges of "peace on earth and good will towards men" ... and women ... that was to have become the new normal as the result of the first Christmas.
Still, "though hate is strong and mocks the song," we at least go through the motions these days by these things.
Maybe if we keep at it long enough, we'll eventually get it right and injustice and violence will become things of the past because the present is full of souls glorifying the Lord because we're all equal as sisters and brothers.
___________
Happy Christmas to all!
___________
