Helen Keller once described what it was like to be both blind and deaf and to not have language. She described her existence as living in darkness. Before language, there was nothing for her. She felt totally alone and was unable to express her isolation. It was almost as if she did not exist. All was darkness.
Then, one day, Helen’s teacher thrust her hand under an open faucet while signing the word for water into the palm of her hand. Helen recalled the one word that she had learned as a toddler before she fell ill and lost her sight and hearing. That one word was wawa, for water. At that moment, Helen had a moment of truth. She was able to connect the letters being signed into her hand with the water which was pouring over her skin. In that holy moment, the Word came to her, the Logos, the presence of God. She awoke to language. She was no longer alone. And her life began.
Before Jesus came to us, we lived in darkness. We did not understand God and we felt that God was angry and dissatisfied with us. We were lost, alone, isolated. We could not seem to communicate with God, to understand what was asked of us. We kept trying to please God, but felt that we were unsuccessful and continually punished. We were waiting for God to come and guide us, to teach us what it means to be human.
And then Jesus came, that tiny baby. He came into the midst of our chaotic world to be for us the living Word of God, to show us what it means to be loved unconditionally by our Maker. He came to us in one of the most violent parts of the world, to a homeless couple. He came right into the midst of our dirty, chaotic world.
In many ways, life begins for us in Jesus. We find in Him a reason for our existence, a reason why we are here. He is a guide for us, showing us a way for us to be human and to be loved by God. He is the Word of God incarnate.
Let us give thanks for this tiny baby who came into the world to be with us.
May God bless you in this holy season.
