The Feet of Him

December 25, 2007

The Nativity of the Lord
Christmas Mass during the DayMerry Christmas!

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, Announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, “Your God is King!”

Isaiah 52:1

In these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. Hebrews 1:2-4

But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth. John 1:12-14

Piety

Rejoice. The waiting is over. God is among us. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/122507d.shtml

There was no midwife hovering around the manger in Bethlehem today. Cousin Elizabeth was tending to young John back in Galilee. No nurse pulled the baby from Mary’s arms to get an APGAR score. (How would the Son of God score on such a modern evaluation anyway?) No one pushed a bulb into his mouth to expel fluids. Everything happened naturally as God wanted.

God just came into the world. God just came into the world the same way that Regina came into the world on August 16, 1985. God just came into the world the same way that Sarah came into the world on June 7, 1987. God just came into the world the same way that you and I did although with quite a bit less medical help than mothers are getting today at Fairfax Hospital.

To prophesy this fact-to-be, Isaiah does not proclaim the beauty of the natural earth or relate it in spiritual terms. Isaiah does not proclaim the beauty of the message, the Word of God like John the Evangelist. Instead, Isaiah proclaims the beauty of the feet that walk on the mountain in very fleshy, biological terms. The feet of him. His holy arm. God standing right before our eyes. God who hears us cry out with joy and sing songs of praise.

Today, the Word became flesh. God started to speak to us through His Son. Isaiah’s ancestors could not even speak God’s name let alone imagine that God would ever “Get Physical.” They relied upon angels, shrubbery in flames, never-ending floods, and more to “grok” what message God was sending. Today, everything changes just as Isaiah predicted. With that change, Isaiah praises the beauty of the two baby feet of God that will soon learn to walk the earth among us. But for now, those feet are wrapped in cloth and laying in a manger because there is no room for them in the inn.

Isaiah does not concentrate on some imaginary halo we see depicted above the head of Christ in Renaissance artwork. Isaiah focuses on the holy arm that extends to hands which will touch the eyes of the blind beggar and raise bread and wine in consecration. Isaiah praises the natural beauty of God’s two feet which will walk the earth among us wandering, encountering, blessing and working wonders.

These two feet will kick in joy as the magi present their gifts.

These two feet will feel the chill of the night air fleeing to Egypt with Mary and Joseph.

These two feet will be blessed by Simeon and Anna when presented to the temple.

These two feet that will wander away from mother and father, only to be found in the temple teaching.

We rely upon the feet of Him to walk beneath the beauty of the stars lighting up the night sky while spending 40 days in the desert.

We rely upon the feet of Him to climb the majestic mountains rising up from the land and deliver the Sermon on the Mount.

We rely upon the feet of Him to stand above the fertile soil from which springs forth our food and stand in the center of the synagogue challenging the Pharisees.

In the midst of this natural God-made beauty, came two feet that would walk the Earth just like you and I. Two feet that would walk the land proclaiming peace despite the Roman legions marching along the country roads. Two feet that will bring glad tidings to the poor despite the wealth of kings. Two feet that will proclaim liberty to captives yet could not save his own cousin from the executioner’s blade. Two feet that will recover sight to the blind only to be destined to look down upon us from the cross.

Two feet that will let the oppressed go free and bring the “good thief” with him into paradise. Two feet that will proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord and lift two loaves and five fishes up to feed thousands. Two feet that will walk over and claim the throne next to God when he has completed the purification of sin.

Two feet full of grace just like His mother was full of grace.

Action

Where will your feet take you today? What will your arms hold today in giving and receiving?

How will you encounter the manger babe who will grow into a man yet still have no place to rest his head?