December 26: St. Stephen

Isaiah 62:6-12; Psalm 96; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:1-20

(Note: I'm not using the readings for St. Stephen, appointed for the day.  We deserve to spend time in the Christmas story.)

Just as he did back at the beginning of his Gospel, Luke juxtaposes “secular” history and salvation history.  We’ve heard the simple recitation of the census, the journey, the birth.  (We don’t hear again about the miracle of this conception, so the first seven verses could be about any couple of the time.)  

Now we shift gears dramatically.  Angels!  Shepherds!  The heavenly host! Prophecy fulfilled!  “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”  

Do they give glory because the prophecy was fulfilled?  Do they give praise because they saw angels?  Why exactly are they so moved, and which part of the story amazed their neighbors?

I’m not trying to dismiss the miraculous elements of the story.  I want to deepen them, if anything; I want to notice the miraculous here and now, which means seeing the miracle in the simple story.  I want to multiply chances to give glory and praise, which means opening my eyes to the wonder that is present even when I don’t have such visitations or prophecies.  The world in which we live is a miracle.  Our consciousness, our ability to be aware of creation and of ourselves in it, is an amazing miracle.  The “facts” are as wondrous as any angelic visitation.  

So often we use explanation to demystify the world, and so we learn to take it for granted.  The process of spiritual growth is in part a reversal of that process.  We do not cease to explain, but explanation cannot be allowed to kill the wonder.  Scientists know this; people of religious faith often fail to get there.  Miracles surround us, messengers surround us, if we open our eyes and ears.

Take time to look for miracles today, and every day.