Its hard to believe, but this will be our last post of 2022, and since we have been moving through the Advent Season and into the Christmas Season, I thought what better way to close out the year than with the nativity.
Every year my wife and I begin our outdoor Christmas decorating by setting up our yard nativity. Before the tree is put up or an ornament is hung, the nativity goes into the yard, a silent witness to our faith for our neighbors to see. Last Christmas (2021) I was having a conversation with my lawn and leaf guy as he picked up the leaves in December. He was working around our outdoor nativity, and he mentioned that Jesus got in the way of his work. It got me thinking, when it comes to our churches and ministries, how often do we behave as if Jesus is in our way?
We may never say it, but with the way we approach ministry, we definitely act as if Jesus is in the way. He seems in the way every time we are being stretched beyond ourselves and challenged to step out of our comfort zone to embrace a God-sized dream or new direction. Jesus seems in the way every time the preferences of the membership or staff take precedence over what will reach those not yet a part of our faith community. Jesus seems in the way every time we are confronted with one of the difficult teachings of Jesus (love your neighbor, forgive those who persecute you – you get the idea).
This, however, is the point of the Christmas season, the point of the incarnation, for Jesus to get in our way. This is at the heart of the birth narrative. God seeing the state of humanity and desiring a stronger relationship with us, put Jesus in our way to model and provide the example of how to live in this relationship. Jesus has always sought proximity with people, not to be in our way, but to be by our side. As Richard Rohr recently wrote: “God for us, we call you Father. God alongside us, we call you Jesus. God within us, we call you Holy Spirit. (from his Daily Meditation, December 15, 2022). Jesus isn’t in the way. Jesus is just walking along this journey with us.