Reflections on the Virgin Birth for the First Day of Christmas December 25

I believe the virgin birth of Jesus …

• ·         Affirms Mary’s essential role in God’s redemptive purpose by bringing Christ into the world through Jesus.
• ·         Affirms the indispensable importance of women through salvation history in the Hebrew Scriptures and in the New Testament.
• ·         Affirms that from creation women fully bear the image of God.
• ·         Affirms that as a young woman of righteous character, Mary’s testimony of her sexual experience (or lack thereof) is to be believed.
• ·         Affirms the essential goodness of the material universe we inhabit and enjoy.
• ·         Affirms the essential goodness of our physical bodies.
• ·         Points ahead, not only to Jesus’ resurrection, but to our hope of the resurrection of the body to eternal life.

I do not, however, make any pretense of understanding either biology or divine intervention in explaining the virgin birth. I well understand that stories, such as Matthew and Luke tell about the birth of Jesus are not intended to be reports such as we in our time might read in newspapers or history books. That does not mean they are not true or real but that they are told in a way to evoke wonder when embracing these profound mysteries.

Neither do I consider some form of doctrinal assent to the virgin birth to be necessary for personal salvation or authentic faith in Jesus. Nor do I use it as a test to determine with whom I will share fellowship in Christ. I am quite content to welcome as my partners on this journey any who aspire to trust and follow Jesus. I believe dialog about these mysteries ought to be for mutual edification rather than dividing into rival camps. I have every confidence that the Holy Spirit can use the words of Scripture to inform and enlighten anyone about the truth of the Gospel without my interpretation. I am also confident that the Holy Spirit can use conversations with fellow travelers to shape me and even use me to shape them.

That the virgin birth is only specifically mentioned in Matthew and Luke suggests that while generally accepted by the early Church, it did not occupy their attention as it has ours, particularly since the Enlightenment. Yes, it may be tangentially inferred from a few New Testament passages (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3; Luke 3:23; 4:22; John 6:42; 9:29; Galatians 4:4) and be regarded as logical with an understanding of Jesus’ being fully God and fully human (an attempt of human rationalism to explain a mystery that the New Testament asserts but does not explain). But it is not directly cited in the New Testament passages that contain very early, proto-creedal language: Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Philippians 2:11; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 4:2, 15.

I am very aware that I have friends from all across the theological spectrum who will take exception to something here, or even to my entire endeavor. So be it. I’m not interested in engaging in theological debate or persuasion. If I managed to prompt others to some reflection of the significance of the virgin birth at this season when it gets some public attention, well and good. If your pondering evokes awe at the wonder of the incarnation, I wish for you enriched worship through Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.

To Be a Flourishing, Fruitful Tree in the Courts of God

Though I am aware that things posted on the internet do not change people’s opinions, recent world and national issues have prompted me to post what I hoped to be thought provoking comments. (Ah the illusions of writers!) For the most part, I get modest affirmation from people I already know are on the same wavelength and mostly ignored by those whom I know don’t see things the way I do. Disagreements are few and tend to seem silly to me. In this same timeframe, I have been concerned about a number of things in our family. Richard Rohr’s meditations for the week of December 9-15 focused on the importance of the interior life. I recognized that these exterior issues had distracted me from tending to my interior life and my contemplative life had withered some.

In response I made a point of getting a session of centering prayer in every day that week and refraining from commenting on current events (at least somewhat – I did post a few scripture and other quotes that seemed incisive to me but left them without comment.) I would have to say that I believed the centering prayer would grow as I resumed a more regular rhythm, but at first I wasn’t finding it particularly satisfying. Releasing the distractions was not easy. Then on December 22 I had what I would have to say was a vision prompted by my daily Psalm prayer rhythm (which I have kept in place for nearly 50 years). I felt I was gaining some consistency with the Jesus Prayer that day, then a vision of the green olive tree in the house of God that I had from Psalm 52:8 that I had read earlier came into wordless focus.

Toward the end of my centering prayer time, I saw the palm tree of Psalm 92:12, also planted in the house of the Lord, flourishing in the courts of God, producing fruit in old age. I don’t recall any biblical or archeological indication of trees growing in the Jerusalem Temple environs, or swallows building nests at God’s altars (Psalm 84:3) I suppose barn swallows might have nested in the eaves and other sheltered outdoor places. That doves, pigeons, and sparrows were sacrificed would seem to be contrary to the images here suggesting security, protection, nourishment, prospering, flourishing, and even bearing fruit (though the cedars in Lebanon don’t bear fruit per se).

Psalm 92:14 specifically mentions bearing fruit in old age. I had had my grandson Sam take pictures of the haircut I got the day before so I can show what I want the next time I get a haircut. Yes, a practical idea, but when I looked at the pictures I recognized myself as having arrived into old age. I know plenty of old folk who try to hang onto what they remember as the “good old days,” which seems to prevent them from living with joy in these good days. I want to embrace all that it means to be flourishing and fruitful in my 70s (now at 72). The images of the trees in the House of God seemed to call me to that today.

The House of the Lord for these flourishing, fruitful trees was not literally the Temple grounds but a great metaphor encouraging me to dwell in God’s presence, as I have been prompted renew my rhythm of centering prayer, in which I expect to receive the nourishment and satisfaction of this stage of my life as the olive, palm, and cedar trees in the House of God.

Personal Reflections on the Virgin Birth …

I believe the virgin birth of Jesus …

• ·         Affirms Mary’s essential role in God’s redemptive purpose by bringing Christ into the world through Jesus.
• ·         Affirms the indispensable importance of women through salvation history in the Hebrew Scriptures and in the New Testament.
• ·         Affirms that from creation women fully bear the image of God.
• ·         Affirms that as a young woman of righteous character, Mary’s testimony of her sexual experience (or lack thereof) is to be believed.
• ·         Affirms the essential goodness of the material universe we inhabit and enjoy.
• ·         Affirms the essential goodness of our physical bodies.
• ·         Points ahead, not only to Jesus’ resurrection, but to our hope of the resurrection of the body to eternal life.

I do not, however, make any pretense of understanding either biology or divine intervention in explaining the virgin birth. I well understand that stories, such as Matthew and Luke tell about the birth of Jesus are not intended to be reports such as we in our time might read in newspapers or history books. That does not mean they are not true or real but that they are told in a way to evoke wonder when embracing these profound mysteries.

Neither do I consider some form of doctrinal assent to the virgin birth to be necessary for personal salvation or authentic faith in Jesus. Nor do I use it as a test to determine with whom I will share fellowship in Christ. I am quite content to welcome as my partners on this journey any who aspire to trust and follow Jesus. I believe dialog about these mysteries ought to be for mutual edification rather than dividing into rival camps. I have every confidence that the Holy Spirit can use the words of Scripture to inform and enlighten anyone about the truth of the Gospel without my interpretation. I am also confident that the Holy Spirit can use conversations with fellow travelers to shape me and even use me to shape them.

That the virgin birth is only specifically mentioned in Matthew and Luke suggests that while generally accepted by the early Church, it did not occupy their attention as it has ours, particularly since the Enlightenment. Yes, it may be tangentially inferred from a few New Testament passages (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3; Luke 3:23; 4:22; John 6:42; 9:29; Galatians 4:4) and be regarded as logical with an understanding of Jesus’ being fully God and fully human (an attempt of human rationalism to explain a mystery that the New Testament asserts but does not explain). But it is not directly cited in the New Testament passages that contain very early, proto-creedal language: Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Philippians 2:11; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 4:2, 15.

I am very aware that I have friends from all across the theological spectrum who will take exception to something here, or even to my entire endeavor. So be it. I’m not interested in engaging in theological debate or persuasion. If I managed to prompt others to some reflection of the significance of the virgin birth at this season when it gets some public attention, well and good. If your pondering evokes awe at the wonder of the incarnation, I wish for you enriched worship through Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.