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Christmas is a moment of the 'great jump'

By Bryant Oskvig

This is the moment of the great jump; this is that moment of suspense where we watch wondering what will happen next, and all of creation seems to hold its breath. The stage has been set and all the actors are in position; there is no turning back now. The leap of love has been taken by God, and we hold our breath in expectation for the landing.

We stand on the precipice of a new action of God in the world. We listen again with hope as the story of divine love begins to unfold before us. As we come to that moment of fulfillment, we have an opportunity to again prepare our hearts for the confrontation of God in the experience of the manger.

In the waiting, and even in the celebration, we look into our own hearts and reflect on how the outpouring of divine love in Christ has changed us in this world. Will we be able to approach the manger with joy? Have we let the experience of God’s love change our hearts, or have we remained as we were? Are we really ready to meet God again in the hope of the Christ child?

In spite of us, ready or not, the leap has been taken. Hope has been, is being, and will be born into the world. The call of our faith will be made in God’s saving actions, and the fullness of divine love will be known through the incarnation.

In this moment, our hearts ready or not, all we can do with creation is respond.

The Rev. Bryant Oskvig, MDiv, is the Protestant Chaplaincy Director in the Office of Campus Ministry at Georgetown University. This reflection is from a book of devotions by the Georgetown University community. Download the pdf booklet.