6) Birthrite: Emmanuel

Mary and Jesus- an old Persian
 miniature. from eslam.de

 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son. They shall call his name Immanuel;" which is, being interpreted, "God with us." Matthew 1:23

 "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

Dominus vobiscum

Et cum spíritu tuo

The Lord be with you

And with your spirit 

This is the message of Christmas.  This is the message of the gospel (good news).  This is the message.  Our Creator has come to live with us, just as was intended from the origin of time.  Now is the start which will lead on to heaven, where all people with live with their Creator.

What about the significance of the virgin birth?  I was interested that wikipedia reports that christians have believed that Mary was a virgin from the 2nd to the 19th century (ie no more).  But the encyclopedia Britannica asserts the the doctrine of the virgin birth remains orthodox theology for all Christian denominations.

This is a peculiar story fit for a peculiar people.  The len of modern ethical sensibility sees numerous problems.  Did Mary have a choice?  The Creator comes into work as part of their creation.  Why Israel? Why in 1AD? What about the thousands of years now understood to be part of the anthropocene.  What about all those living in the America, or far off in China?  

What we know is that Our Creator is with us.  Also that our Creator remains with us in our spirit.

PRAYER: All I know is that you are with me, and have promised never to leave me.