Observation: In Isaiah's call story, he is pulled up into God's house: the throne room of the heavenly temple. The hem of God's robe fills the temple, and God is attended by other-worldly beings: Seraphs, with six wings. It is truly an alien environment. Isaiah feels defeated, because there is no way he can be worthy to be in such a holy place.
Application: It's almost the end of the Christmas season, and in case I was in danger of getting too "cozy" with the Child in the manger, this is a reminder of who I've been hanging out with. The same one whose temple fills with smoke to shield mortal eyes; the same one to whom the seraphim sing "Holy, Holy, Holy," all the time, through eternity, even when mortal ears can't hear; this is the one who took on flesh to be with us.
Christians have a bad theological habit of reading the entire Old Testament--especially the parts of it where God is "high and lofty", holy, untouchable and apart from human experience--and categorizing it all as "God the Father." Anytime we see God as "larger than life," that must be that "Father" guy. Certainly it can't be our buddy Jesus who took naps on boats, and made fish breakfasts, and was born in a lowly manger. But if we make that hard, fast separation, we're actually emptying the incarnation of its miracle.
The Christian witness is that God is Triune--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--and always has been. We can't divide up the Old Testament and try to figure out which "person" showed up for Moses in a burning bush, and which one appeared to Isaiah. The Lord did all those things. And The Lord is Father, Holy Spirit...and Son. The Son of God was there all along. Even in the lofty temple.
Hate to be the one to remind you: children are born into "mangers", into impermanent housing, into less-than-ideal situations, every single day. The wonder of Christmas is that this happened to God, who dwelt in glory in the heavenly temple, whose praise shook the foundations of the house. This is the one who freely chose solidarity with us. This is the one who makes human life holy with his presence.
Prayer: Son of God, I am not worthy to have you share the same planet, to inhabit the same type of body and be the same type of creature as you. Yet here you are: God with Us. Pull me deeper into the mystery, not that I might understand it, but that I might continue to live in awe and humility. In your name I pray. Amen.
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