Where exactly in Chicago could you find newborn Jesus, then?
Michigan Avenue, where all the nice tree lightings and upscale stores and hotels are? At the Holy Name Cathedral, just a few blocks away from the Michigan Avenue? Or, in that big Nativity Scene in the Daley Plaza? Even the Archbishop Cardinal Cupich gave a blessing to that Nativity Scene...
If this is how you think, I am afraid that you may be missing the true spirit of Christmas. If that is the case, what you think as "Christmas" may not be what Christmas really is about. If your sense of Christmas is hijacked by materialism or hedonism or both, you are like to to seek the babe in such places.
In order not to lose our sight on true Christmas, we need to remember what the Sacred Scripture describes of the Nativity.
According to the Scripture, in particular, the Gospel according to Luke, how did the Nativity of the Lord happen?
Mary and Joseph were on their way to Bethlehem for their census registry in the hometown of Joseph, as ordered by Caesar Augustus. When they were coming near Bethlehem, suddenly, Mary started having labor pain. Yes, it's a real medical emergency!
You would either call 911 or drive your wife to nearest hospital in rush. But, Joseph did not have a car. No 911 service at that time in Palestine. So, they had no choice but ask around to see who would let them in. They asked around and around, while Mary's labor pain was multiplying and amniorrhexis was so imminent! But, they did not find a place yet. Imagine what was going through the minds of Mary and Joseph at that time. Then, they find a stable that they could get in, and it was where Mary gave birth to Jesus, while farm animals were watching.
Joseph served as a midwife in delivering Jesus. As he came out of Mary's body, newborn Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothe and placed in a manger.
Who in the world would wrap in rag and put in a manger?! But, it was best Mary and Joseph could do in such an emergency circumstance.
With this Lucan Gospel narrative on the Nativity, imagine, again, Mary and Joseph going on North Michigan Avenue's "Magnificent Mile", from near Drake Hotel, heading south, toward where Michigan Avenue crosses Wacker Drive.
Yes, it is so nice to go through this beautifully lighted focus street. Then, Mary started experiencing labor pain.
When this happened, Mary and Joseph were near Northwestern Memorial Hospital. So, they rushed to its ER, though Joseph had no insurance.
The hospital could not take Mary in as the ER was more than its full capacity.
Mary and Joseph had to find another place.
Neither Mary nor Joseph had a cell phone. They were too poor to have a cell phone service. There was no longer a pay phone on street. Many people passing by but none seemed to care about this couple.
Mary could just scream to get attention from the aloof public to have someone call 911. But, she just remained quiet, trusting God's care. She also told Joseph not to bother anyone as they seemed too busy with their own businesses.
Since there are many hotels on and near the Michigan Avenue, they tried them all. But, none could offered a room for them to give birth. Perhaps, it was because they did not look "nice" enough to be accommodated to these hotels in this upscale area of Chicago.
So, where did Mary and Joseph go?
They came near the intersection with Wacker Drive. Since Wacker Drive goes along the Chicago River, which faced the Lake Michigan, strong chilly winds from the Lake were hitting them relentlessly. We know, it would increase the risk of miscarriage. So, they decided to go down to Lower Wacker Drive, where Mary's body with Jesus in her womb could be shielded from the brutally cold winds blowing from the Lake. However, Lower Wacker Drive was not a pleasant place as it smelled like sewer and garbage. It is also where many homeless people huddled in their efforts to stay warm.
It was in this stinky place on Lower Wacker Drive, Mary and Joseph found a little space with enough privacy for Mary to give birth. Thus, Mary gave birth to Jesus there on Lower Wacker Drive in Chicago.
No tree lightening there. There were garbage dumpsters. Behind them, homeless people were keeping warmth. Some burning trash to generate some heat.
Then, an angel appeared to the homeless people behind the dumpsters and announced the good news of the birth of the Messiah, saying, “Do not be afraid! I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” Then, all the sudden, a bunch of the heavenly angels, praising God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
In response, the homeless folks said to one another, “Let us go now and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us!” So, they went in hurry and found Mary and Joseph with the babe wrapped in a rag, placed on a dirty pizza box.
In witnessing the theophany in such a place, the homeless people, singing Te Deum in exaltation.
While this event was happening in a place on the Lower Wacker Drive, many people were walking on Michigan Avenue with many bags filled with expensive goods, many cars were passing on the Wacker Drive.
How many people in this third largest city in the United States would notice this event?
Do you feel that this story has no point at all? Or, do you see where this story is leading, in light of the original Nativity story in Luke's Gospel?
To appreciate this story, let us ponder why God chose to make Himself visible to us not only in the human flesh of Jesus but through such a nativity story in poverty?
If you are still looking for the God incarnate in where all these Christmas lights are...even where these Nativity scenes are..., you are not getting the true spirit of Christmas but "commercialized" Christmas.
Has Christmas prompted you to be drawn closer to those who have been marginalized and treated as if invisible with genuine σπλάγχνα (splagchnon), רחמ (racham), as Jesus felt for the poor and as the Father felt for the ענוים (anawim). If yes, you can truly find Christmas joy even in a place like Lower Wacker Drive, among the homeless huddling there for warmth.
"Be careful not to let yourselves become occupied with too much feasting and drinking and with the worries of this life, or that Day may suddenly catch you like a trap. For it will come upon all people everywhere on earth. Be on watch and pray always that you will have the strength to go safely through all those things that will happen and to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21:34-36
Jesus was born to us as an עָנָו (anav) so that we can stand before him when his salvific mission is consummated.
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