A newborn baby is helpless, completely dependent on others for the maintenance of life: food, drink, warmth, safety, love. It is that helplessness, that perfection in miniature, the tiny body, the fingers, toes, nose, ears and mouth that tugs at our heartstrings so that we are arrested, we admire, we touch and we want to protect. The baby enters our hearts, captures our attention through his littleness, like the small key that opens the great door to the mystery of human existence. It is through the vulnerability of the baby that the divine glory, like a gem, a precious stone, shines its light. Power through love is drawn out of even the most seemingly indifferent adult. God chose to secretly invade our consciousness through what is natural, for did he not invent this way of producing new life?

This is how God came to us. He made himself vulnerable. He disarmed us by his defenselessness. The Incarnation of God coming in the flesh of a baby is the supreme manifestation of the law of the universe and the message of salvation. What kind of God: all-powerful, all-knowing, the Creator of all the ends of the universe, Judge of all, would make himself vulnerable to us in this way? Is this his understanding of Love and Compassion for us that he would reach out to us through human fragility?

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength...God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things -- and the things that are not -- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him" (1 Cor.1:25-29).

There is magic in the diminutive. "When one is fond of anything one addresses it by diminutives....The reason is, that anything, however huge, that can be conceived of as complete, can be conceived of as small....We are not fond of 'large', we are fond of 'small.' For economy is far more romantic than extravagance...There is the feeling of cosmic cosiness." (G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy)

We are drawn to fairies and elves and repelled by giants and ogres. God comes in small things. We prefer the small business than the huge corporation, the farmers' market rather than the supermarket. Jesus compared the kingdom of God to the mustard seed. "Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree" (Matthew 13:31,32). Small things are not to be despised. "Who despises the day of small things" (Zechariah 4:10).

When I was serving as Chaplain of the Polytechnic of Central London (now the University of Westminster), students were enamored with Mao Tse-Tung and his little Red Book of sayings, one of which was "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun." Attempts to suppress the growth of Christianity by force have not succeeded in China or elsewhere. The power of the Savior born as a baby in Bethlehem is more powerful than all the words of Marxist or Communist leaders. Do not despise the day of small things, the tug of the tiny hand upon the hearts of men and women everywhere. As Phillips Brooks, the author of the Christmas Carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem, wrote 150 years ago:

Nineteen centuries have come and gone. Today he remains the central figure of the human race, and the leader of humanity's progress. All that armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the governments that ever sat, all the political leaders that ever ruled, put together have not affected the life of human beings on this planet so much as that one solitary life.

Jesus said that no one can enter the kingdom of heaven unless he becomes like a little child -- in humble trust. There is no place for pride, or jaded cynicism, or world-weary indifference when you embrace the Christ-baby in your arms. You have to give him your heart. You have to respond with love and gratitude for the gift of life -- your life - and the gift of eternal life in his arms. "He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart" (Isaiah 40:11).

This image of Jesus was indelibly imprinted on my heart as a child. On the east wall of my home church over the Communion Table/Altar there were three stained glass windows portraying Jesus. The central one was of Jesus as an infant in Mary's arms with the inscription from Luke 2:52, "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." The window on the left was of Jesus as the Good Shepherd carrying a lamb in his arms. The window on the right was of Jesus as Teacher with a Bible in his hands.

From infancy, like Timothy, I "have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15). As a child does by nature, there was a desire in me to find answers to questions: "why?" "why?" "why?' Why are we here? Where have we come from? Where are we going? What happens to us after death? How can we become like Jesus? The healthy baby has an unrestrained hunger to be fed. We have an eager desire for spiritual food that will not be satisfied with the poor substitutes of this world that seek to distract us and to entertain us. "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good" (1 Peter 2:2,3). "Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God's pure kindness. Then you'll grow up mature and whole in God" (The Message).

What about you this Christmastide? What are you going to do with this baby Jesus? King Herod tried to murder him because he was a threat to his power. There have been many attempts to take advantage of the vulnerability of God in the flesh, to destroy the way, the truth and the life. But the love of God is stronger than any earthly power.

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love Divine,
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and Angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love Incarnate, Love Divine,
Worship we our Jesus,
But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
Love shall be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,

Love for plea and gift and sign.
(Christina Rosetti)

Ted's blog is found at www.tedschroder.com SOUL FOOD: DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR THE HUNGRY, Vol.1, January, February and March is available for gifts at Amazon.com