We rightly celebrate the birth of Jesus – the eternal Word of God becoming flesh. But all too often we attempt to sanitize the fullness of this reality. We act as if Jesus did not have a real body – a body that got bloody and sweaty and that required him to squat in the dirt to relieve himself. And when we fail to recognize the full humanity of Christ we will also struggle to accept the messy realities in our own life.
Some Christmas traditions place the Caganer in its nativity scenes – a squatting and defecating figure off to the side. While this might look irreverent, it’s not blasphemy. It reminds us that nothing human was excluded from God’s entering into as a flesh and blood man. Jesus became flesh and had to eat, digest, and eliminate just as we do. His flesh was not merely a costume; it was part of his embodied existence.
And, in this way, Jesus blesses and makes holy the very bodily existence we tend to reject and hide, or otherwise feel is undignified. The body is certainly a stunning masterpiece of transcendent beauty, but it’s also earthy and dirty – producing many unpleasant odors, discharges, and conditions. And the Caganer provides a needed counterbalance for us when we’re tempted to believe we must stay above the messy realities of life.
A Christ who squats in the dirt is more loveable because he’s human – understanding the fullness of our humanity. In the same way, we don’t have to disown our humanity as we serve others. We can be strong and still need time to rest, grieve, or enjoy sensual delights. We don’t have to deny our limitations, weaknesses, or unflattering moments as these are just part of being human. Like Christ, we can fully inhabit our humanity without losing our dignity. This keeps us humble and relatable even as we serve and bless others.
In the end, if Christ was willing to become flesh and take on the most ordinary functions of human life, what makes you think holiness requires you to deny the messy realities of your own humanity?
