THE STABLE – by Sr. M. Chrysostom, O.S.B.
The winds were scornful,
passing by;
and gathering Angels
wondered why
a burdened Mother
did not mind
that only animals
were kind.
For who in all the world
could guess
that God would search out
loneliness.
The iconic scene of Mary giving birth in a stable. It’s a scene so endearing; so fitting for children to act out at Christmas time.
Underneath the cute story there lies a more disturbing one, telling of the fragile human condition. It speaks about the loneliness of human existence.
We are lonely because we believe to be “cut off” – held at arms’ length from the one who Created us; left vulnerable for all that life throws at us.
All of that is captured in the nativity scene and teased out in this poem.
We present to the world our best foot: our accomplishments - our blessings.
But there is always a quiet anxious “hummm” in the background. The dread of loss. Loss of all these things, even loss of life itself. Furthermore - the dread of isolation that loss often brings. At any given time our “cut offness” could present itself, leaving us feeling as isolated as the “burdened” Mary. Helpless as the newborn babe. Wherein even the scornful winds simply pass them by.
Into our frail existence – we are offered a gift, as was Mary (so the sacred story goes). The gift of assurance – that we are known and loved and belong to the very one who created us.
God longs for our company. God’s desire to commune with us is something so very strange. Why - it even has the angels scratching their heads!
The gift of assurance frees us from our old expectations that God remains up there somewhere – disinterested in our human frailty – disengaged. Except perhaps only to judge.
Why would the Creator of the winds and the animals and us seek to share in our frailty? I can think of only one reason why God would come among us – why God would, as the poet writes, “search out loneliness”… a deep burning love.
May the passionate love of our God warm your hearts this Christmas and into the cold winter months.
Michelle