"AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND LIVED AMONG US"
Where do you think the Christ Child would be born if he were born today…. in the middle of New Orleans or Darfur?... in Bethlehem or Baghdad?… in you or in me?

Dear Friends in Christ,

This promise is the center of our Christmas celebrations.

And, yes, it is a promise.

Not only did God become human in the child born in Bethlehem, but the presence of the Holy One became the salvation of the world. This One became our salvation through his death and resurrection.

I find it comforting that the child was born in Bethlehem, a place of little significance in that day. It is not the place where those who wished to establish their power base would think of going. Also, to be born of a poor, peasant family was not a wise move in order to influence the powerful and mighty. Yet, that is where God chose to be born.

Where do you think the Christ Child would be born if he were born today…. in the middle of New Orleans or Darfur?... in Bethlehem or Baghdad?… in you or in me?

The answer is in all of these places. Everywhere that needs the salvation that God brings, the promise is certain. As the Gospel reminds us:

"...to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become the children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God."

A Blessed Christmas to All!

Bishop Jim Stuck