We have heard Aaron's blessing many times. It is obvious that God's only wish is our happiness, well-being, and salvation. We should remember this when negative ideas of God shake our confidence and make us fearful. These negative images come from humans, not God. And what is the greatest blessing of all? God sent His son Jesus to be born as one of us, as a human being, so that we might all be adopted as God's daughters and sons. It is much more than merely 'being saved'. God wants to share what God is with us. We are invited to be members of the divine family and to be free of fear and separation forever. The greatest part of that blessing is that it can begin now, in this life. There is no need to wait until we die. We are now; God is now; our relationship is now. The ancient people believed that a person's nature was reflected in their name. Mary's child is named Ieshua (Jesus); and the name means 'God's saves'. Not 'punishes' or 'condemns' but 'saves'. Not only that, but by appearing first of all to the shepherds in the story, who were at the bottom of society, God signals that a new day is dawning. No one owns or controls God; God is present and available to all.