As I write this I am aware of the amazing tragedy unfolding in Haiti. An impoverished people have once again fallen victim to the forces of nature. While some look for blame, I pray that most of us look instead to ways we might help our neighbors. I am always at a loss to explain such a tragedy other than the recognition that we live upon a planet in constant flux and motion. There are places more at risk than others to the forces of earthquakes. We live in one of them.
As we live in these seasons of our earth moving and changing, we also live in the seasons of our faith. The season after Christmas is known as Epiphany, or the season of gifts.
The Gospel of Matthew 2:1-12 mentions the wise men from the East bringing three gifts to the Christ child. Without Matthew's witness the story would fall shy of the worldly impact it deserves. The wise men had seen a star and had taken the star as a sign of an amazing event that compelled them to travel a great distance to pay homage to the child born king of the Jews.
We hear and tell the story every year. In it we affirm, as did those first witnesses, that the birth of Jesus marked a new day for the entire world. It is the story of intrigue and betrayal as Herod plots to get rid of this child that is already heralded as a king. In Herod's mind there could be no king but him. This story says to Herod and all throughout the centuries that thought like him to think again.
In terms of just when these wise men arrived at their destination we have but one clue. When Herod realized he had been left our of the story he sought to kill the child and ordered all male children under the age of 2 killed. (Matthew 2:16-18.)
In spite of Herod's ago and his absolute power in his realm, God has a different plan for the world of God's creation. God has chosen to become like us. We come to the Gospel of John who has no mention of Jesus' birth yet speaks with absolute certainty of what the birth meant for us all. The word became flesh and dwelt among us so that all people would come to know God. At this time and in this place it bears witness again that God loved the world and us beyond imagining. (John 1:1-5 and John 3:16.)
As we witness the horrendous events of earthquakes and disasters in places like Haiti, I am reminded that God's love surpasses our understanding. It is not ours to ask why. It is ours to respond with the same generosity that God gave us in Jesus Christ. What a gift!
In this season of gifts, I pray we all will give as we can to whatever relief agency we believe in and keep all in our hearts and prayers.
The Rev. Pete Nelson of Carson Valley United Methodist Church is a member of the Carson Valley Ministers' Association.
