Chaplain’s Corner, December 2009

            As the Christmas season is upon us I want to pose a question to each of you as you read this brief missive.  Have you ever paused and thought about what might have been if the Christ Child had not been born? 

            The known world in the year that Christ was born was ruled from Rome.  Judea had a Roman governor who ruled with an iron fist, this included Jerusalem and Bethlehem.  His word was Law!  His soldiers were ruthless in battle and undisciplined in nature, yet full allegiance was given to Rome and its ruler, more out of fear of his reprisal than of his position.  Herod had been told that One would soon be born who would become Ruler of the world.  When the Magi visited him, he asked that when they found this soon to be born child,  return to Herod and tell him so he in turn could go and give the Child a proper welcome to Judea.  When the Magi failed to return to Herod (God sent them home by a different route), he ordered that all male children under two years old, be put to death.  He wanted to be sure his throne was secure.  Little did he know that he in turn would be murdered by his own offspring. 

            I wonder what kind of world we would be living in if Jesus had been killed.

            I wonder if typewriters, computers, printers, telephones, CD players, ipods and cell phones would be invented.

            I wonder if we would have indoor plumbing or still use an outhouse or tree.

            I wonder what our mode of travel would be, would it still be horse drawn carts or walking.

            I wonder if the Wright brothers would have invented the airplane.

            I wonder if we would decorate a tree with lights and tinsel and presents, instead of a manger scene.

            I wonder if we would still be invading other countries, killing some of the inhabitants and making slaves of the rest.

            Since Jesus was born in Bethlehem, protected by angels, worshipped by shepherds and adored by His parents; perhaps you and I need to be reminded more often why we celebrate Christmas.

            If the greatest need of the world when Jesus was born, had been information, God would have sent an educator.  If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent a scientist.  If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent an economist.  But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior, Jesus the Christ, God’s only Son.

            He became like us, so we could become like Him.  He loves each of us like we are the only one of us He can love.

            Let’s keep Christ in Christ - mas.

In His Service,

Tom