Extrodinary Things from the Ordinary

As the sun began to set, two weary travelers reached the outskirts of Bethlehem. It had been a long journey from Galilee, though the weather had been pleasant. As Mary’s time drew near, it became obvious to Joseph that they would not reach his relative’s home that night, and that he would need to find some shelter.

The inn that they came to had no room for them, although the inn-keeper suggested that they might use the stable that was around back. This was not what Mary had pictured for the birth of her son. The stable was so ordinary, so common. At least they would only have to stay for the night.

In the hills above Bethlehem were shepherds watching their sheep during the night. The sky above them had turned from blue to black and stars filled the heavens. The sheep were well-fed on the new spring growth sprouting from the hillside and were beginning to settle down. It was just an ordinary night.

Suddenly, an angel appeared before the shepherds. Sensing their fear and surprise, the angel said: "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Following the promptings of the angel, the shepherds hurried down the hillside and found that common, ordinary stable, and in a manger meant to provide food for the animals, they found the baby Jesus, they found Christ the Lord.

By following the promptings of the Spirit, we too can find the extraordinary among the ordinary.

Early one morning, as the Savior taught the people in the temple, the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to Him that had been taken in adultery. The woman listened as her accusers questioned Jesus as to whether she should be stoned to death according to the Law of Moses. Jesus appeared not to hear her accusers and wrote some words on the ground where he sat. Rising up to meet the accusers, he said: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." Then he stooped down and wrote some more on the ground.

Convicted by their own consciences, each of the accusers left the Savior and the woman, leaving them alone. The Savior asked the woman, "Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?" to which she replied: "No man, Lord." Jesus then looked into her eyes and said: "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."

Our "ordinary" may be filled with sin and mistakes and our souls be harrowed up with guilt. We may feel that there is no help for us – that all is lost. But through faith on His name and repenting of our sins we can be freed from those ordinary chains, and feel of His extraordinary love and peace.

As Jesus had left the temple, slipping past those who would stone Him, He saw a man who had been blind since birth. That the blind and lame huddled by the gates of the temple in hopes of some relief was quite ordinary.

His disciples asked: "Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered them, saying: "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him."

Jesus spat upon the ground and made clay from the dirt and the moisture, and anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. He then told the man to go to the pool of Siloam. The man went, washed, and came seeing.

Sometimes our "ordinary" is filled with sorrows, infirmities, disappointments or tragedies, none of which were our fault, they just happed. But if we allow the Savior to anoint our eyes, we can wash away the sorrow, anger and bitterness from our eyes, and see extraordinary things.

May your Christmas be filled with the extraordinary.