Nativity - John Donne

Immensity cloistered in thy dear womb,
Now leaves his welbelov'd imprisonment,
There he hath made himself to his intent
Weak enough, now into our world to come;
But Oh, for thee, for him, hath th'Inne no roome?
Yet lay him in this stall, and from the Orient,
Stars, and wisemen will travel to prevent
Th'effect of Herod's jealous general doom;
Seest thou, my Soul, with thy faith's eyes, how he
Which fills all place, yet none holds him, doth lie?
Was not his pity towards thee wondrous high,
That would have need to be pitied by thee?
Kiss him, and with him into Egypt goe,
With his kind mother, who partakes thy woe.

Contemplating the heavy symbolism of Jesus entering the world...just like the rest of us...except most of us had a home, with a pillow to lay under our head.

Jesus came in to the world, but he was obviously/symbolically not of it.

If he was born today in America, he would be in America, but most definitely not be of America...and through our holy justice system, we would have him sentenced to death for loving the poor, calling out the religious to give all they have, so there is not one in need around them, and follow him. He would probably say that the constitution was a house built on sand, and that the separation of the church and the poor is a more pertinant issue than the separation of the church and the state.

I know I am projecting my own thoughts onto Jesus, but I am saddened like Leland that this Christmas Eve, church buildings all over the world will have their doors locked so that no one without a home can come in and find rest...and worse, many are strategically placed in areas where homeless and poor persons are not welcome.

What I mean is, when the early church began, it looked like this...

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

First, this shows how our culture has completely embedded itself into The Church, rather than the other way around. No wonder we have over 3000 denominations, and we offer LUKEWARM salvation with no contest to lifestyle unless you have certain addictions. This is vulgar relativism.

For all the fear that is preached, why are we not scared to death of being LUKEWARM. Our we that imprisioned/institutionalized by our culture?

Our money is imprinted with our presidents...why does that look different to us than that of the coins of Caesaer? Give to the presidents, what ever is the president's...walk away and give to God what is God's (which is ourselves, our beings...is this not our true salvation, to follow the Son of God, born homeless, given the penalty of death for standing on the frontlines of Hope?)

We simply cannot serve both.

Kings pardon, but he bore our punishment.
And Jacob came clothed in vile harsh attire
But to supplant, and with gainful intent:
God clothed himself in vile man's flesh, that so
He might be weak enough to suffer woe.
-John Donne

I feel that is most important to be in a place, or to create a place, in which The Church is a magnet for brokeness. Is this not Our vocation?

What's the point of this song? Or even singing?
You've already gone, why am I clinging?
Well I could throw it out, and I could live without
And I could do it all for you
I could be strong
Tell me if you want me to lie
'Cause this has got to die

This has got to stop
This has got to lie down, down
With someone else on top
-Damien Rice