"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given...." Advent is for me a time of theological excitement, a recurring reminder of the vastness and modesty, the miracle and ordinariness, the inexplicable mercy and unobtrusive normality, the indescribable gift and the unforgettable story, of what God was about when that child was born in Bethlehem. There are themes in the nativity stories that have fascinated and frightened, inspired praise and provoked puzzlement, giving many food for much thought while others could only swallow the stories with a pinch of salt. Virgin birth, divine promise, incarnation, divine intervention, angels, Christology, miracles and mysteries - not one of them a theological no-brainer.
The picture of the Madonna and Child is the focus of my first Advent blog post. It's from a school called the Master of the Embroidered Foliage. The early Renaissance artists knew a thing or two about theology as well as art - and they help us with the inexplicable mercy and the unobtrusive normality of the workings of the Advent God. You can read the post on this painting over at Hopeful Imagination. During Advent there will be a daily post at Hopeful Imagination - you may already have your Advent blog destinations arranged, but if you're looking for more, give it a try.
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