The ‘Little Clans’ of our Land

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.

Micah 5.2

Years ago, in a high school classroom, I was introduced to the works of Northrup Frye and Margaret Atwood. Most people know Margaret Atwood as the Canadian writer who has most recently captured our imagination through the adaptation of her “Handmaids Tale”. In many ways, Atwood was building on the work of Frye, who was an English professor but also an ordained minister. Together they had a tremendous part in identifying some of the features of the mind of those who had been colonized. Fry named it the “garrison mentality” and Atwood went that much further in her work “Survival” to name some deep Canadian attitudes that spring from colonization; chief among these is the sense that “head office is always elsewhere”.

This deep sense of alienation from the center, surrounded by a hostile geography is one which the ancient people of Bethlehem also shared. They were considered part of the “little clans” of Judah – it is written right there in the scripture – not particularly important and well off the beaten path but from them would come the one who was to rule Israel. To skip just a few more verses ahead to verses 4 and 5, Micah reminds us that “…he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace.”

This topsy-turvy kingdom which Jesus proclaimed reminds the people from the little clan that they will supply the mighty shepherd. The insignificant of the world will move the kingdoms and empires of the world. The unlovely will be made loveable and the broken shall lead the broken to the place of healing and restoration. Even death will die—an irony which the topsy-turvy kingdom sings and exults over.

The proclamation of the prophet Isaiah, that the deaf hear, the lame walk, the dead are raised and the poor have the good news preached to them is being brought to life in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. As people of this land, it might be easy to think that the coming of the kingdom is something that is happening somewhere else; that “head office is somewhere else”.

The way of life Jesus makes possible for us is for everyone. There is no “head office” but rather the call to hear the angel’s message of peace among all people is for us, here, on this land. We need not wait for someone to come and tell us that we can begin the work of discipleship. Instead we are surrounded by the need, the broken lives and the desperation of the people who are waiting to hear the words of good news which Jesus spoke so long ago.

As you celebrate the birth of Jesus this year, reach out to those around you, the lost and hungry, and offer them some of the cup of joy that we have found in our communion with the Lord. Let your hearts and doors be open as we show people in our lives that the message of Christmas is for us, right here, right now, and that it can transform the pain, suffering and grief that might otherwise define us. Instead, we are offered the birth of a small child. This has made all the difference to us, who are some of the “little clans” of our land.

Happy Christmas!