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Today Cambodia is facing it’s largest scale humanitarian crisis in decades, as border clashes with Thailand have escalated into a broader armed conflict. In Myanmar, the military regime continues to brutally oppress its people but will no doubt win the \u201celections\u201d it’s holding next week, despite controlling less than 60 percent of the country. Natural disasters are made far worse by climate change and leaders seemed focused only on the short-term. Countries around the world\u2014especially in Asia\u2014are building up their militaries, preparing for war. The global economy continues to prioritize the ultra-wealthy elite while extracting all the value it can from everyone else. We turn to the Church for hope and find theological splits, denominational schisms, and conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n
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The Christmas season bursts into this moment as a candy coated distraction. The advertisements scream “eat, drink, and be merry” because Santa Claus is coming to town. In Phnom Penh (and across much of Asia), Christmas has become increasingly popular as a commercial holiday\u2014a festive celebration of what can be bought at the luxury malls dotting the capital. Foreign casinos\u2014infamous for allegations of human trafficking and oppressing their Cambodian workers\u2014shine lavishly decked out in holiday lights and decorations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Helpless and hungry, lowly and afraid But no\u2014take a breath\u2014Christmas is a disruption, not a distraction. It is an annual reminder of the most dramatic realignment in human history. Two thousand years ago the world was troubled by wars, oppression, hunger, and wealth inequality. There were vicious ethnic and religious conflicts, power was held by a few, and ordinary people lived under harsh oppression. When we look around the world today\u2014this all seems eerily familiar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who is this who lives with the lowly Christmas is one of the clearest reminders\u2014surpassed only by Easter\u2014that God’s ways are not our ways. God showing us in action what really matters, what can bring hope, love, peace, and joy despite the troubles of this world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who is the stranger here in our midst In fulfillment of prophecy, God incarnate was born in Bethlehem however<\/em>, in defiance of our earthly values, Jesus was not born to the wealthy or powerful, but to a working class family. This was a deliberate choice\u2014Joseph was far from the only descendant of David\u2014showing us in the clearest terms what matters from God’s perspective. Some of our Christmas hymns and stories try to sanitize this moment, yet God incarnate was born in a stable\u2014which was filthy, demeaning, and lowly\u2014to a ordinary family forced to migrate by an oppressive government. This was a clear demonstration that our earthly troubles cannot separate us from God, who is far beyond willing to meet us in the midst of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why lies he in such mean estate Then as now, Jesus is reminding us that human power structures are temporary, that prestige will fade, and that our treasures will rust or be lost\u2014that our true calling is to love God and to love our neighbor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wrapped in the chill of midwinter
Comes now among us
Born into poverty’s embrace
New life for the world<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Sharing their sorrows knowing their hunger
This is Christ revealed to the world
In the eyes of a child
A child of the poor<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Looking for shelter among us
Who is the outcast
Who do we see amid the poor
The poor the children of God<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Where ox and ass are feeding
Good Christian fear for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n