Around that manger, around that child, gathered the best of human life, the finest traits of civilization. Shepherds living lives of great simplicity, without luxury or laziness, and responding at once to set off and see what God had done for them, without even pretending to understand any of it. The three wise men, with their compelling commitment to wisdom, learning, understanding, the courageous and dignified search for meaning. Shepherds, with their challenging lives of simplicity, austerity and frugality, living close to the nourishing earth, carefully and responsibly in close cooperation with creation and its creatures. Joseph, the supreme man of honor and quiet dignity. Not seeking the defense of his own reputation, but the will of God. And Mary, the example beyond all others of humankind of absolute, unshakable faith and devotion to God, with a joyful and trusting acceptance of his will according to his word. There gathered round that infant Jesus, the best that we can hope for, those characteristics of human life that are most esteemed by decent people who recognize enduring worth and value in each and every one of them. And from the manger, shining forth, the staggering surprise that all of that which is good and right and just and beautiful will not avail for salvation, a tiny baby boy, and he alone, will bring our redemption, and offer that to us, as a gracious gift, not as the predictable consequence of lives lived out with the best intentions. The Incarnation does not make those splendid approaches to the living of our lives unworthwhile, it simply shows that they are just not enough. They are good and right and the glories of each generation, but the magnificent truth of Christmas is that they are not enough, only a tiny child is enough, only he is enough for our salvation. We are not called through the glorious gift of this child to set aside simplicity, to give up wisdom, to ignore honor or to finesse our faith - we are called to admit before the stable and in our souls that none of that is or can be the main decisive element of our Christian lives, these wonderful things and these great qualities are not the means of salvation. It is the encounter with the child, the acceptance of Jesus Christ into lives which are variously well-ordered and deranged that will avail for our salvation. We did nothing to bring this child into the world, we need do nothing to bring him into our hearts, beyond simply accepting the gift offered. He himself will fashion the way to come to us, abide in us, be with us. We did not bring this forth, it is not the long awaited outcome of our search for God, it was simply given, and as little child. A tiny baby is the answer, lying in a manger. We joyfully celebrate his Incarnation this night, and even ,more joyfully receive the sudden appearance in our lives of the glory of the Lord, that suddenly appears and shines round about us, the glory of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ, offered to us, coming to us, this night, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.