It was an embarrassment

It was an embarrassment! An experience that was excessively cringeworthy. The family Christmass lunch is one those events where only the brave and foolish prosper. Let me tell you about one such fictional attempt at peace on earth and good will to all people.

Fleur and Jack are your welcoming hosts and while there had been some passionate disagreement about Jack's code of dress (Hawaiian shirt, shorts and thongs) they are at the door to greet and meet the troops as they arrive. By the way, Fleur had won and was proudly wearing a twin set and pearls. Jack got away with a dubious but clean T-shirt.

The first to arrive are Darby and Colt. Darby is 17 and has discovered her feminine hormones. Colt is 22 with alluring body art and a face full of fishing tackle piercings. He speaks with an accent that no one can quite identify. They are obviously very happy to be together and sit very closely.

Next to arrive is Martha and June, her partner. Fleur has never really approved of this arrangement while Jack is already pouring them large glasses of Chardonnay as they settle themselves down next to the loud TV. Unannounced they have brought Jimmy their son along and he is gazing down the bottomless black hole of his shiny new Ipad.

Ryker and his Dad Kingston arrive. They live at the dodgy end of the street but have bought a chook from Coles and half a dozen VB cans. They have no-one else for Christmass and Jack thought it would be a cracking idea if they came along. The first Fleur knows about this is when the doorbell goes. Imagine Hyacinth Bucket and an unexpected Onslow.

Ryker and Kingston are the last to arrive. Extra chairs are squished in around the table and a smoky aroma begins to waft from the kitchen. Fleur exclaims a very un-lady like word and hurtles away to sort out the mess.

The Christmass presents are predictable except those between Darby and Colt. They are curious in shape and design. The conversation starts innocently enough. Chooks, footy, cars, real estate and the weather; but then slips mercilessly towards politics, COVID and religion. The booze flows, Faces are flushed, voices begin to be raised. Somehow a chicken drumstick magically sails through the air striking Jimmy's beloved iPad. The christmass tree topples over onto Colt and Darby who are mercifully oblivious to everything else that is happening. The doorbell goes  and the Vicar arrives for a nice pastoral visit and a cup of tea. The police pull up outside as there has been a complaint from one of the neighbours.

It was an embarrassment. So why am I telling you this story and where does God fit into all this mayhem? The good news is that God fits right into our every embarrassment. It is an embarrassment that the Mother of God was a peasant teenage lass from a backwater town. It was an embarrassment  that she and her hubby hadn’t been married for nine months before her waters broke. It was an embarrassment that their pleas for a room were declined.  It was embarrassing that the maternity ward was nothing more than a dark dank cave. It was an embarrassment  that the wise men had to stop and ask directions from a devious and manipulative monarch. It was an embarrassment that Our Lord died a lonely criminal's death with only a few by his side.

It is embarrassing that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords offers himself in meagre busted bread and a sip of wine.

There is no circumstance, no dysfunctional family, no embarrassment so catastrophic, that God is alienated. He can never be apart from Fleur, Jack and the crew or even the well meaning Vicar who should have known better and been at home with his own family. I am going to conclude with some words that I did not write.  A parishioner wrote them and I sought their permission to use their words. If you listen closely you will discern another embarrassment that I had not thought of. The crisp eloquence of the words is something quite special. I found the words helpful and my prayer is that you will too.

Bare feet kissed the stony walkways of Bethlehem
In the early morning dark
Young boys, junior to my fourteen years stood  about in the  mist.
Stood about and stared making me uncomfortable
unable to bare my breast and feed.

Country boys speaking quickly with a pronounced accent,
taking no notice of the cold laughing at private jokes
just standing around devoid of their sheep.
The sky opened for them or so they said
peering into the highest heaven announcing this birth.