Exposing the role that Islamic jihad theology and ideology play in the modern global conflicts

The Nativity Blues, Or, I’ve Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good

By

Earlier today, I finished helping my wife decorate a satisfyingly small in height but wide in girth tree, and then I set out our own Nativity Scene. Everyone other than Jesus is there — he’ll join the scene on Christmas Eve, after the Midnight Mass. Mary is there, and Joseph, and three Wise Men from the East, three angels down from Heaven, a shepherd with two sheep, a cow, a goat, and even a camel. Having completed the task, I went online and have just learned how old-fogyish and stuck-in-the-mud I have been, when so many others are getting with the program of putting out Nativity Scenes that Won’t Offend Muslims or that Send A Message other than that old-fashioned one, which is this for those who need reminding: To wit, that Jesus Was Born In A Manger In Bethlehem, and He came in human form to tell us to love our neighbor as ourself, which is a very tall order. More on the new Nativity Scenes, in all their offensive idiocy, can be found here: “Italian bishops praise Nativity scenes without Christ as Pope Leo defends traditional customs,” by Gaetano Masciullo, LifeSite News, 

Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed the traditional value of the Nativity scene while Italian bishops promoted “updated” uses marked by an ideological bent.

Good for Pope Leo XIV. Can’t he pull rank and tell them to keep quiet?

The Saturday edition of Avvenire — the daily newspaper of the Italian bishops’ conference — gave space to an article by theologian Marco Vergottini on the theme of contemporary Nativity scenes, proposing symbolic reinterpretations that go so far as to include representations devoid of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, as a sign of closeness to migrants, the poor, and marginalized groups.

Who needs Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, when we should all be trying only to semaphore to the universe the message that “We Care”? Yes, we care about all the wretched of this earth, the migrants, the poor, the marginalized. What we don’t care about are traditional Christians who would just like to enjoy for a few weeks a traditional Nativity scene. These get-with-the-program bishops respond: “Not so fast.” They want the church to be like the church founded by the preacher Hazel Motes in Flannery O’Connor’s Wise Blood, “the Church of Jesus Christ Without Christ.” They now suggest we should have the Birth of Christ without Jesus, or Mary, or Joseph. Everyone, including, of course, thin-skinned Muslim migrants who might otherwise be offended, can then feel they are being included. If Christianity is so great, shouldn’t we package it in a way that Muslims will find attractive?

Vergottini, former assistant to the controversial Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, is the author of an article published in Avvenire entitled, “The Right Nativity Scene? It Allows Us to Recognize That God Is Still Being Born.” The text takes its cue from a case that occurred in the Archdiocese of Boston, where the pastor of St. Susanna parish in Dedham, Massachusetts, set up a Nativity scene without the Holy Family to denounce raids against illegal immigrants carried out by U.S. federal authorities.

Vergottini places this episode within a broader context of modern reinterpretations of the Nativity scene, ranging from figurines of famous personalities to representations defined as “creative,” maintaining that the Nativity scene is not a simple devotional object but a “domestic theology.” The text states that many communities, in Italy and abroad, have chosen to depict in the Nativity scene migrants, the homeless, families waiting for residence permits, or healthcare workers, as a way of updating the evangelical message.

“Many communities have begun to include places and people of today in the Nativity scene,” Vergottini wrote. “Exhausted migrants on a wooden boat, homeless people crouched under a portico, families waiting for a residence permit, nurses keeping vigil through the night, and – why not – that crowd of the least who in our cities is becoming ever more numerous. This is not a concession to ideology, but an act of evangelical fidelity.”

And why not put up a tiny Palestinian flag just outside the Manger, to show that our hearts are in the right place, and we stand with the Palestinians now enduring a genocide in Gaza? What better way to extend the hand of friendship to our Muslim brothers?

On the same day, however, Pope Leo XIV addressed Nativity scene makers gathered in the Vatican for the Jubilee, forcefully reiterating that the Nativity scene is not a sociological exercise but the proclamation of the Mystery of the Incarnation….

Pope Leo XIV is standing firm: hands off the traditional Nativity Scene. But the very idea that some bishops, and priests, are proposing to have Nativity Scenes without Jesus, Mary , and Joseph, in order to identify with the poor, the homeless, and especially with the kind of migrants who have no interest in Christian doctrine, leaves me in a Slough of Despond. And that’s not the kind of feeling one wants in this season. What about you?

Comments

  1. It’s good that Jesus (Yeshua Ben Yosef) said to love one’s neighbor as oneself. He wasn’t the only, or first, one to express that ideal or a similar ideal.

    … you shall love your neighbor as yourself …

    —Leviticus 19:18

    … Even as a mother protects with her life her child, her only child, so with a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings …

    —The Buddha, Sutta Nipāta 1.8

    • I didn’t mean to be offensive.

      Just standin’ up for my peeps (Jewish people*) and informing about my religion (Theravada Buddhism).

      *Although, all people are my peeps.

    • Jewish people have been, and continue to be, ubiquitously misunderstood, libeled, unappreciated, hated, religiously appropriated, persecuted, and mass-murdered. And I have Jewish ancestry. So I feel that I have a duty to stand up for Jewish people.

      And I understand the teachings of the Buddha to be beneficial. So I feel compelled to share them.

      And I am glad to see any civilized society standing up for their culture and civilization against Islamic Jihad.

      • The key word in your closing sentence is “civilized”. Who decides which is a “civilized” society and which is not? Aye. There’s the rub.

        • If you like their society so much that you defend with pretend differences in definitions, why don’t you leave Canada and go….oh, wait.. Never mind.
          Canada will soon be just like those other “societies”.

        • A society that is civilized is one in which the axiom, “That which is hateful to you, do not do to others” is enshrined in the laws of that society, and is widely practiced by the citizens of that society.

        • The following truth is obvious to any reasonable person—a person who is not ideologically hostile to Western civilization.

          A society that is civilized is one which has the following principles enshrined in its laws and whose citizens adhere to those principles.

          • Protection of the liberty of every citizen (freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of peaceful assembly, etc.)
          • Universal equality of every citizen before the law
          • Justice equally for every citizen
          • Right to impartial due legal process for every citizen
          • Protection of vulnerable citizens
          • Protection of law-abiding foreigners
          • Presumption of innocence (of anyone who has been accused of a crime or crimes, and of anyone who has served a full term of punished after they, in a court of law, have been found guilty of a crime or crimes)
          • Ethical reasonable balancing of civil liberties with communal needs (such as saving a life even if it means risking the life of the lifesaver or lifesavers)
          • Non-aggression of the nation toward other societies that are non-aggressive toward it

  2. Good description of your nativity celebrations, Hugh. Now have a security system that will maim anybody who tries to damage it within your property. I know you’re not the engineering type, but I’m sure there are several places one can find setups on how to sabotage saboteurs

    On a different note, I hate how people of today try to apply contemporary themes to ancient events. We see it w/ Hindus, where modern themes are overlaid on religious festivals, making a mockery of them. I don’t like it happening w/ Christians or Jews any more than I like it happening w/ Hindus

    • How about a sign that says something like, “My rottweilers can beat you to the gate.”

  3. Here, we are surrounded by light shows, blowup Santas, fake snowmen, sparkly reindeer, lighted bushes, a few houses with odd violet-colored outline lighting that is reminiscent of those on the local boudoir enhancent business, electric trees, etc.

    Our town, settled by pioneers having kerosene lanterns, could make North Korea visible from space and starve AI research facilities.

    It’s not Xmas or Holiday, it is Christmas. There is nothing shameful in Christian doctrine or inferior to secularism or Islam.

    We finally had enough last Sunday and brought our humble Royal Family out of the attic. We have the only house for blocks with a Nativity display, be it only half human size and missing shepherds, manger, and animals. Yes, it has a Jesus.

    What this world needs is a life-size Jesus with a whip. When Jesus instructed with the Beatitudes(Matt 24) it was not a suicide pact as liberals interpret. Nor was it a declaration of superiority for believers as is found in Islam. Christianity is more a call to loving service by believers while not absorbing the corruption that will be seen.

    Jesus asked his followers to be slow to anger, yet, as he personally demonstrated at the Temple “currency exchange”, there is a time for action. There will be times when we must render military service to “Caesar” such as WW2.

    Islam should not mistake Christian passivity for weakness. Cowardly EU, UK, elites and Popes may turn Islam on their own citizens, yet the USA, due to armed citizens, still has the ultimate power to correct corrupted government and resist invaders.

    Let’s have a Merry Christmas.

  4. So the pope is defending the historical Navity. Outstanding. He also has removed Dolan. I didn’t read to know “why.”

    This changing, modifying, **history** in order to pacify the unpacifiable is beyond stupid. In all cases, that tactic is stupid.

    However, Jesus came to *save* all who **want to be saved.** One must accept His offer if they wish to have His help.

    There is all of this degrading of what is, by the very presence and foundation, wonderful. Isaiah wrote of it centuries ago

    Chapter 42
    “The Servant of the Lord
    42 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen one in whom I delight;
    I will put my Spirit on him,
    and he will bring justice to the nations.
    2 He will not shout or cry out,
    or raise his voice in the streets.
    3 A bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
    In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
    4 he will not falter or be discouraged
    till he establishes justice on earth.
    In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

    .This is what God the Lord says—.the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
    who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
    who gives breath to its people,
    and life to those who walk on it:
    6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
    I will take hold of your hand.
    I will keep you and will make you
    to be a covenant for the people
    and a light for the Gentiles,
    7 to open eyes that are blind,
    to free captives from prison
    and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”

    Jesus’ promises include everyone who wishes to be included.

    This demonic effort by many today, is just that: demonic. It will not change what The God and Creator of the Heavens has ordained to be. It is just showing Him where hearts are regarding the things He has done and will do.

    Those working for demons, will all fail.

    • The official reason that Dolan stepped down is he reached the mandatory age of 75 and had to do so. But, I’m always suspicious that Pope Leo, being a White Sox fan, didn’t like Dolan identifying as a Yankee fan to us New Yorkers.

  5. Hugh,

    Happy winter holiday. Errr, I mean Merry Christmas!!!

    Christmas is not about shopping, Christmas trees or lights. It is about recognition of the birth of Jesus Christ by most Christian denominations, Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox notwithstanding. The Christmas markets, caroling and other festivities add to the occasion!

    Just one fine point: Jesus was most likely born in Nazareth, not Bethlehem, although a good case can be made for the latter.

    • The Bible says He was to be born in Bethlehem….long before He was born. I have no doubt that the Divine Prophecy came true.

      Micah 5:2
      ““But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
      Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
      From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
      His goings forth are from long ago,
      From the days of eternity.”

      And because of the census, Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem where Jesus was born.

      Luke 2:4-6
      “Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.”

      Micah defines which Bethlehem, as does Luke; because there were two cities by that name. One in Zebulun and the other in Judea.

      • Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah, was a Hebrew prophet active in the 8th century BC, serving during the reigns of Judah’s kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (roughly 750-686 BCE), prophesying during the turbulent era when the Assyrian Empire threatened both Israel and Judah, witnessing the fall of the Northern Kingdom.

        I cannot present all the arguments on both sides, but the generally accepted historical truth claims that the birthplace of Jesus was massaged to conform to the prophecy of Micah, so that Jesus would be part of the Davidic dynasty. Some questions follow:

        Why do only Matthew and Luke mention Bethlehem? Why do they give different explanations for how the family ends up there? Why does Mark (earliest Gospel) and John seem unaware of a Bethlehem birth?

        Most historians believe that Bethlehem birth stories were developed to express theological truth, not biography, by linking Jesus to Davidic prophecy. The theological truth is that Jesus is the Davidic Messiah, whereas the historical reality is that Jesus is known as a Galilean from Nazareth, and that it is highly unlikely that a Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where Mary then gave birth to Jesus, there, and then they went back to Nazareth.
        But, this is not conclusive. A Bethlehem birth could’ve happened, although it seems unlikely.

        • Believe what you wish.
          I was giving my reasons for believing Jesus was born where Micah said He would be and where Luke said he was. Since Luke was alive during that time, he knew more then than people alive today.

  7. Send the “migrants” (that is, invaders) home and the problem is solved.

Discover more from

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Skip to content