Plastic Jesus

I stopped at Central Park to take a break and look at the Nativity Scene. Joseph, Mary and Jesus made of plastic with lights inside glowing at night. It reminds those who pass of the real “Reason For The Season.” I wonder if there are times when people look at followers of Jesus (I’m including myself) and see us being synthetic. The world is starved for that which is real and don’t need factitious religious folks. Many years ago William Booth, the founder of The Salvation Army, was asked about a new translation of the Bible and whether Christians should be reading it instead of the King James Version. Booth’s answer was very insightful, “"I want to see a new translation of the Bible into the hearts and conduct of living men and women." He was alluding to verses like Colossians 3:16 that says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” The figures in that Nativity scene are clean, serene and lifeless. Not like the young couple who travelled far and delivered a child in a smelly stable surrounded by livestock. Jesus, the Word of God, put on skin and lived in this messy world showing us The Way. His followers are not called to be statues but living witnesses who reach out in this chaotic world with His love and mercy. Christ should be “translated” into our daily actions as our lives are gifts to “Others” sharing the Good News of Christmas throughout the year!