A story to shock - story of the King of Kings, the Son of God - begins in poverty - with an illegitimate birth - with shepherds (scum of the earth, the outsiders, the great unwashed) - a hard journey - stable - manger. (a trough or box in a stable, barn from which horses or cattle feed - OF maingeure food trough). Yet mention the manger and it resonates cuteness, a lovely nativity scene, Away in a manger. The first  draft of CEV used feedbox - but after protests it was changed to bed of hay - if you had any choice in the matter would you put your new born baby in an animals trough? -it’s shocking.

There was a letter in the Observer last week complaining that the crib outside Littlewoods has been pushed out of the way - but what is to be expected when Christmas is about money - obsecene money. The shock is to question to suggest that Christams might be about something else - Feast of the nativity - Feast of theFeedbox - God coming to the poor, to those you despise the most, those we turn our noses up at, those we don’t believe have any better right to meet with Son of God than we do.

This is no cute Christmas card scene, this is not even Peace on Earth - the cross hangs as a shadow .... - the baby has a scandalous destiny. Why celebrate? year of flood, earthquake, war, - bethlehem prison, hostages, refugees, aids, why celebrate?

in the midst - Jesus, Son of God

in our tears - Jesus, Son of Mary

in our pain - Jesus, Crucified Redeemer

in our living - Jesus, Word of Life

in our dying - Jesus, darling, darling, little child

under all the rubbish, cutting through the sentimental crap - the baby Jesus