How Should a King Come?

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because the Lord

has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives and release

from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the

year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve

in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead

of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

Isaiah 61:1-3

There is a new report out this morning from the U.S. Census, showing that a record number of Americans, nearly 1 in 2, have slipped into poverty or are scraping by on earnings classified as low income.  Federal and state safety net programs such as food stamps have been cut back, while the recession continues to make it difficult for these individuals to find jobs.  Housing and childcare consume as much as half of their available income, leaving little for utilities and food, much less any incidentals.  Programs that assist families at Christmas time are overwhelmed with applicants this year, the need far out-stripping the available means.  Meanwhile the talking heads in think-tanks and the politicians in Washington, all of whom bring home a more-than-comfortable salary, wrangle over partisan politics and whether people who are classified as poor or low income “actually suffer material hardship.” [Associated Press]

Mary and Joseph were among the working poor who traveled to the city of their origin for Caesar Augustus’ called census.  They did not go to the family estate in Bethlehem, or rent out the luxury suite at the local Hilton.  They sought housing in the common local inns, and upon finding no accommodation, accepted billeting in an animal enclosure. When God Himself descended to grace this earth, He did not come as the child of the wealthy or entitled, but as a baby born to the common man – a Savior of all mankind.