I was waiting in the morning for the day break in our garden earlier this month, while looking at the tall trees to watch for the bird movements which happen usually at dawn.
I noticed a Bulbul bird flying out from the top of above a photo tall Nutmeg tree. Its foliage was scanty. Hidden in the thickly crowed twigs, I noticed its pair waiting for its flight movement. It is just visible at 11 0' clock position in the photo above.
While noticing this sight of one Bulbul in its flight path and the other still securely perched in the tree, amidst the crowded twigs and branches of the tree, I was taken back by the contrast in the appearance of a Bulbul bird when perched and while in flight. What was not visible while perched, became visible during the flight.
This helped me to get an insight about what happened at the first Christmas. There was enough in the sacred Scripture about Jesus who would be born in Bethlehem. His form, nature, appearance and later the fullness of Him as a person when He grew in 'stature and wisdom' were finally revealed, when He entered in to His public ministry.
Starting from His presentation on the eight day at the temple, when Simeon and Anna prophesied about Jesus as the saviour, and subsequently the 'flight ' to Egypt after his birth, when Herod was seeking to 'destroy' Him, there was an incremental revelation of Jesus, as the Messiah!
We have glimpses of Jesus of Nazareth, from the Gospel narratives of Matthew and Luke beginning from His childhood, when He was brought to the temple on the eight day. At 12 years of age He stayed back in the temple to be with the Scribes and teachers of the law. He started His public ministry around thirty years of age...all these and the subsequent messages and teachings of truths, encounters, miracles and healing... were lot more profound than what would have been conceived by most people around Him. It was when He suffered, died and rose on the third day followed by His ascension, the mystery of His earthly life became fully revealed.
How concealed, hidden, small and formless the Bulbul looked when it was perched in the shelter of the crowded branches! But while in flight its appearance was gloriously different!
It is one thing to imagine or watch a manger and picture baby Jesus wrapped and lying silent. It is yet another experience to feel befriended by Him through the narration of His life and mission in the pages of the Scripture. It is the Scripture and the encounter experiences of people summarised in thousands of Books or biographies that unfold the mystery hidden in Jesus of Nazareth, whose birth we recall during this week!
Jesus of Nazareth is a mystery to behold and experience. Those who came in the spell of His love and Grace became transformed people!
How surprised we might feel when we prepare ourselves to behold Jesus and allow our lives to be embraced by His all encompassing love of forgiveness and healing!
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
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