Christmas is by far the greatest secular holiday. Within Christianity, most Christians would argue that it shouldn’t be; that Easter should be the greatest Christian holiday. I disagree. I think the incarnation is the greatest miracle imaginable. As I have written elsewhere:
Christmas is first and foremost a celebration of our humanity. It is the divine source poured down into human form, sanctifying the human, the dirt and the grime, the blood and the visceral existence of humanity. It is the symbol of all that is holy weaved together with all that is mundane. It is the divine showing us that the divine source of love, god, is and has always been infused in all things created.
And as far as queerness goes, it is hard to get queerer than a teenage girl (having sex with?!) becoming pregnant by the divine spirit, out of wedlock no less. So this bastard child (who is also god?!) is born in a stable, because his parents are on the road. Forced by the government (that probably was coerced by the occupying power) to get registered for tax purposes. No room at the inn (what proper innkeeper would take in a knocked up teenager and her husband to be?) Cast out, marginalised, in the dirt and grime. That is where god chose to show this radical outpouring of love. And speaking of queer, (if queer is to be understood as transgressing boundaries) In the greatest crossdressing/drag act of the universe the divine becomes all that god is not, finite, human, male, a babe, helpless, exposed. It doesn’t get queerer than that.
The divine in human drag is the greatest miracle, showing once and for all that matter is not of less worth. Showing that being human is not a shameful, sinful, lesser state. Once again granting humanity with divine approval, divine blessing and divine presence. The in/carnation, in/bodyment, is divine éros being propelled towards humanity with such reckless abandon.
The greatest miracle was not that Jesus is 100% god, the greatest miracle is that god in Jesus is 100% human!
So a very queer Christmas to you, to me and to everyone.
Let’s celebrate the divine making love to-impregnating divine human beings, divine non-monogamy, miracles in the face of oppressive regimes, the marginalised and the outcasts carrying the (rainbow) light of the world, angelic choirs, but most of all, the ultimate miracle: Immanuel – god with us. Immanent, present, regardless of your situation or circumstance, divine love is with you (no matter what name, shape or form you prefer.)
