This time of year, I get to watch one of my favorite films – “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Despite its faulty theology (people do not ever become angels), it’s a well-loved, heartwarming Christmas classic. The values of family loyalty, self-sacrifice, friendship and community are evident. And the punch line of the film – “Remember, no man is a failure who has friends” – is striking in our current negative climate of materialism and competition.
My favorite scene, the one which moves me to tears every time, is when George is serenaded and welcomed through the pouring rain into the old house. Mary, enfolded in her new spouse’s arms, says to him, “Remember when we threw rocks into the window? This was what I wished for.”
Mary’s profound love for this man was able to envision the old wreck of a house transformed by love into a home: a home still full of quirks and imperfections, yes; but filled also with life and growth and music and laughter. Love saw a way where human wisdom saw only disaster and hopelessness.
It’s an imperfect analogy for sure, but its Christmas message always reminds me of the bigger picture: the birth of a Redeemer into the wreck of mankind’s history of sin. God’s love foresaw the rescue operation he would accomplish in this wrecked, empty “house” of our world, our lives. And Mary’s longing and yearning for the fulfillment of her hope-against-hope stands for the faithful waiting of Israel’s prophets and all of groaning humanity.
God’s Spirit weds himself to the Virgin Mary and gives birth to the Answer: “…the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee…“.
In Jesus, God makes the Way to transform our wreck into a home: His Body, the Church. Yes, this new home is still full of quirks and imperfections. But it has produced offspring who are His – bought with his life and renewed by his love – able to love, and rejoice, and sing and grow.
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).
Lessons From Love School 