CS-2016-txt-ART.indd 24
“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good
news of great joy that will be for all the
people. For unto you is born this day in
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THE CURIOUS SIGN OF THE MANGER
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Most impressive of all, however, is money. We
drool over people whose incomes are impressive—the Murdoch dynasty, the Kardashians and
Bill Gates. Rich equals impressive, and as long as
you are rich you can be famous, even when you
have no discernible skills, talents or gifts.
The newspapers, countless magazines, the
paparazzi and an entire industry of voyeurism all
feed on our infatuation with that which is socially,
physically, economically and intellectually impressive. We like to be impressed by people, and we
like to impress others. Prestige is important to us.
Doing the right things, being seen with the right
people, wearing the right clothes, playing the right
sport, earning the right money.
And therein lies my second difficulty with the
Christmas story. This story presents a situation
that is a complete rebuke to all of that material
obsessiveness and passion.
The baby we are told about in this story is the
one who is proclaimed as both Christ and Lord.
12/09/2016 1:02 PM