“Do you believe in Miracles? YES!”
One sad part of post-modern Christianity is that we sometimes have difficulty believing in Miracles. The virgin birth, the journey to Bethlehem, the baby born in a manger, angels, shepherds, wise men —sometimes (maybe most of the time) we just sort of push these aside: “well there’s no way that could happen.”
This disease even infects the clergy I am sad to say! While in Seminary discussing the Episcopal view on scripture, I attempted to illustrate that we should consider the distinction between ‘Fact’ and ‘Truth’: that there are many truths in scripture that we cannot prove but are no less true. This was roundly shouted down. In our modern scientific world proof is required for fact and truth.
This is the war between creationists and Big Bang theorists, between Noah’s Ark as allegory and Noah’s ark as verifiable event. Between Jesus as Teacher, Prophet, Savior, and Lord. In a moment were science has offered us a vaccine for COVID and magical thinking has offered us more infections and deaths - it is tempting to jump on a side and say “I believe in science!”
But I don’t believe in science. For science as an academic discipline does not require belief! Science proves things, it tests hypothesis to determine whether something is true or not. It is not a question of belief — if science proves something then it is (unless of course it isn’t — because the experiment was not set up correctly or the data changes).
So I don’t believe in science. I trust science! But I believe in Jesus.
As I sit in my living room staring at a beautiful Christmas Tree watching huge chunks of snow falling with a puppy curled up next to me sleeping, I find myself particularly susceptible to belief.
Belief that things will get better. Belief that humans do love and care for each other. Belief that Baltimore is a finer city that we give it credit for. That Memorial has a brighter future than even my rosy predictions. Belief that the incarnation is real - that if Jesus can be born in a dusty barn in Bethlehem then Jesus can walk these streets too — offering us hope, opportunity, joy and peace.
But that is only possible if you believe in miracles. The big miracles like the birth of Jesus - and the little miracles like a negative COVID test, a successful surgery, a last minute contribution of masks and hand sanitizer, or an unexpected college scholarship.
So this Christmas season - I want to invite you to practice belief. Belief in the old miracles even as we keep our eyes peeled for new ones.