“Love is what we are born with. Fear is what we learn. The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and prejudices and the acceptance of love back in our hearts.” Marianne Williamson

The account of Jesus’ birth that we hear today is the foundation of a way of life. The birth of Jesus is a gritty story. We clean it up a bit so that it’s easier for us to digest. Jesus was born into a less than ideal world in less than ideal conditions. The government of Rome was an imperial monarchy that sought to bring all in line through fear. They used the military and economic inequality to bring fear. For most, it was a less than ideal time to be alive.  Some spoke on behalf of God, but what they were saying was nothing that was of God. Others thought that God had stopped speaking, giving up on the people. People were watching for a messiah, expecting a great warrior, a smooth politician, and a gifted legislator.

No one was expecting the most powerful love of all to come into the world as a baby. Jesus would later in his life describes Gods actions like “a thief in the night.” God sneaks up on us. This day, we are waiting for God to sneak up on the the whole world once again.  In a world that is filled with fear, we need this. We need a savior who is born with the power of love, not the love of power. We need the reminder through the birth of Jesus that we are all born with love. Not fear, but love. Tonight, as we welcome Christ we begin a journey. A journey to who we are created to be, people filled with love in our hearts.