by Rev. Jim Fuller

At Christmas we recall the birth of Jesus.  We see nativity scenes; recreations of the stables behind the traveler’s shelter where he was born.  We imagine his parents looking lovingly on him as he rests in his manger bed with shepherds and angels nearby.  The stories of the birth of Jesus found in Matthew and Luke are a wonderful reminders of the simple beginnings of the man who would one day experience his Divine or Christ nature and then go on to help us re-frame our understanding of both God and ourselves.  And while we may realize that the stories of Jesus’ birth are more symbol or allegory than history most of us still find them both comforting and inspiring.

But what about the other children of Joseph and Mary?  In Matthew 13:55-56 we read that when Jesus returned to Nazareth and tried to teach there people asked, “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us?”  We tend to forget that Jesus did not grow up as an only child.  Here we have four brothers named; James, Joseph, Simon and Judas, along with a reference to “all of his sisters”.  This was no small family!

From other historical sources we know that after his resurrection his brother James, known as James the Just, became a leader in the early Christian movement.  In the Gospel of Thomas, an original collection of Jesus teaching dating to the same time period as our other gospels, we read of Jesus’ followers saying, “We know that you are going to leave us. Who will be our leader?” To this question Jesus replies, “No matter where you are you are to go to James the Just, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being.”  Clearly Jesus viewed his brother James as more than just a sibling.  Thomas’ assertion that Jesus had designated his brother James (not John) to carry on his work may explain why Thomas is portrayed as both dense and doubting in the Gospel of John.  Some scholars have also raised the question of whether Thomas, which in Aramaic is a nickname meaning the twin, was yet another of Jesus’ brothers.

“The Family of God” by Nathan Greene, ©1990, All Rights Reserved, Used By Permission www.nathangreene.com

So Jesus has brothers and sisters, and at least one of his brothers is actively engaged with him in his spiritual work.  How might we imagine their births?  Did Joseph and Mary smile warmly and lovingly on them?  Did the radiance or spirit of God shine in their eyes too?  Did angels watch over them and guide them as they grew into men and women?  I believe the answer to each of these questions is yes, of course.  Did each of them come to understand and experience their Divine or Christ nature fully like their brother Jesus?  James might have, and perhaps some of the others, at least to a degree.  By now they may all be fully awake.

Like us, each of Jesus brothers and sisters was a Divine creation with an inner Christ nature.  At one point in his travels Jesus uses the arrival of his mother and brothers and sisters at the house where he was teaching to point toward this when he asks, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”  He then comments, “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:48-49)  Those who have found their God connection understand that at the level of Spirit they are all brothers and sisters and even mothers to one another, and to Jesus.

And that brings us to your Divine birth.  You may not have been born in a stable at Christmas but you do have a place in the holy family that includes Joseph and Mary and Jesus and James the Just and the many other sons and daughters of “Our Father” God.  So how might we imagine your holy birth?  I’m not just talking about your physical birth but your birth into the awareness of your Divine or Christ nature.  Might angels be gently watching over you, shepherding your mind as it awakens to its Divine nature?  Might the Christ within all those around you smile warmly as moment by moment you are born into Christ awareness?  And might the birth of your Christ nature inspire and awaken the memory of the Christ within other members of your family; your brothers or sisters or mothers?

This Christmas I invite us all to celebrate not just the birth of Jesus, but the birthing of the Christ in ourselves, our friends, our neighbors.  We are all Jesus’ brothers and sisters.  Let us acknowledge ourselves as members of this very holy family, the family of Jesus, the family of God.  Let us treat one another not only with gentleness, kindness and love, but also with reverence and respect for the Christ that lives within.  Perhaps this year we too will get to witness the birth of the Christ in some of those around us… or even in ourselves.

May the light of Christ,
the true light of the Christmas season,
shine in your mind and in your eyes
that you might behold the birth of Christ
in the holy ones that surround you.
Amen.