Who Are You Standing With?

 by Tom Fairman

Adoration of the Shepherds Bernardo Cavallino (1616–1656)

At Christmas time, there are many festivities to enjoy and partake in; family gatherings, seeing old friends and work parties. It is a great chance to relax with those you are closest to, to catch up and to re-connect away from the busyness of everyday life.

During the last week of term, the Sixth Form at my previous school put on a Winter Ball to celebrate the end of term. The school was a small one and so there were only around 30 students that attend, but the size meant that everyone knew each other; not only knew each other, but respected each other's differences. Throughout the evening, the too-cool-for-school students were dancing alongside the gaming club students who were singing alongside the sportspeople. It was amazing to see the diversity and acceptance that can exist.

A similar event occurs as we gather around the crib to see the new born baby Jesus. By His side are his parents, focused on their new child, but welcoming others to share in this moment with them. The shepherds arrive from the fields having received a message from the angels that a new King is born. These are ordinary workers, uneducated and outside of the main city with an occupation lowly regarded; a collection of unimportant yet hugely privileged visitors. Following close behind are the Magi, with their gifts their education, their entourage. They have studied the stars, read the signs and journeyed from afar to be there for this moment. They are from a foreign country and are highly regarded, yet they set aside their status to pay homage to a baby born to a homeless couple in a stable.

This scene is complete with the animals that appear to be captivated by all the commotion that is occurring in their stable. The full array of farm animals can be included depending upon how big the crib is in the church, but they come representing the whole of creation, being present at the birth of the One who created them. Above the stable in the sky hover the heavenly hosts, the choirs of angels, the messengers of God who have brought the Good News to those participants below. They have come on mass to witness and celebrate this incredible event.

Standing shoulder to shoulder, dancing and celebrating together is the whole of creation on Earth and in Heaven, the whole of humanity from the educated to the uneducated, the poor to the rich, the important to the unimportant. We are standing together to witness the beginning of God's kingdom on Earth with them as we look into the crib at Christmas. We join in this party that we may not understand, but knowing that we are welcome because we are understood as we stand there and also because we belong there. This is where we were made to be, a foretaste of what is to come.

One of my favourite images of heaven is this idea. When we are called to come before God at the end of our earthly life, we come to stand before His throne. We are not alone as by our side is Jesus to bear witness for us and stand in our place. Yet behind us come all of those whom we have touched and shared our lives with, not because they are needed to plead our cause but because they want to share in this moment with us. God the Father looks at us, at Jesus, at those around us and loves us, embraces us and draws us into His kingdom. This is the vision of the crib; an invitation offered to all to enter His kingdom, to stand with those we love in worship of the One we love. I pray we can accept this invitation as we stand together with all of humanity, creation and heaven worshipping the new born King in the manger this Christmas.