Exegesis –

- Both passages are about how God does great things with humble people and places

- Bethlehem was too small to be one of the great tribes, but that is who God chooses

- Mary was too young, and too insignificant to be the one, but that is who God chooses

- And from a illegitimate baby without a place to lay his head, God brought down an

empire and established a community of people who remain to this day.

- An imperfect people caught up in a lot of mess – but we are here and we are

remembering and God has not given up on us

- This is the Good News – this is the power of God’ love

- These scriptures remind of us of two very important things:

1. God’s Love does really big things with very small people – the left out, the

lost, those at their lowest.

2. God’s Love is bigger than all forms of oppression even death!!!!! (poverty,

patriarchy, nativism, imperialism)

Invitation this Christmas is to see this, to celebrate this and to open yourself to Jesus’ coming in

you in 2025.

1. Recognize how God’s love has shown up in the past. This is the news worth pouring over

Really lean into the Christmas story has a powerful example of God’s love in action. And don’t

forget the cross which is where God’s love culminates and overcomes!

2. Celebrate how God’s love has shown up in your past and present.

Remember all those who have given you love, especially those who have passed on. They were

not perfect but they were your people and you don’t have to forget them at this time. Also,

remember the things that God has brought you through just in this year.

3. Welcome the opportunity to be a conduit of God’s love in 2025!

We are on the precipice of a God moment a time where around the world folks are in conflict and

strife and we need a saviour to show us the way. This is an opportunity for all of us to be the

hands of feet of Christ in the world. We will need to remember this story – remember the odds

that were against Jesus so that we have

Reflection Questions –

1. Where in your life are you feeling small (at work, in your family life, in the state of the

world)? How can recognize that place as an invitation for God’s love to transform you?

2. In the next week what are 1thing that you can do to really ground yourself in God’s love

in human history? What is 1 thing you can do to recognize God’s love in your life? How

can you make that an explicit part of your Christmas practice?