A nativity scene in Bethlehem this year placed the baby Jesus among a pile of rubble. Bethlehem is silent this year. The Church of the Nativity is nearly empty.

And in our darkness, he still comes. In the brokenness of our world, he comes. In the destruction we choose, he still comes to bring hope. When we are bent on tearing down, he has come to build back up.

This third verse from “O Holy Night” comes to mind:

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!

He taught us to love one another, and we are in a time when we have seriously forgotten that lesson. Let us come and adore him once again. Not because he is a cute baby, but because he is our King. And it time we obey him.