THE MOMENT WHEN GOD STEPPED INTO OUR HISTORY
(A biblical refection on CHRISTMAS [Year A] – 25 December 2013)
Gospel Reading: Luke 2:1-14
First Reading: Isaiah 9:1-6; Psalms: Psalm 96:1-3,11-13; Second Reading: Titus 2:11-14
The Scripture Text
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born Son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased!” (Luke 2:1-14 RSV)
Christian faith accepts that at a certain moment in time God stepped into our history, clad in our flesh and blood, in order to heal our sinfulness and draw us to Himself. Saint John the Evangelist expressed the mystery in one short statement: “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
But Saint Luke has fleshed out the mystery in a story of people and places. It is a story that children can understand. In fact, it is only the child in the soul that can appreciate it with proper wonder and the sense of being involved in the story. Luke’s familiar story has given us the crib tableau and the script of that play which four year-old children perform for admiring parents on their theatrical debut. It has inspired the artists, poets and hymn writers of a thousand cultures. We see pictures based on the story on Christmas cards which range from the masters to the modern commercial mixture of biblical figures and winter symbols like holly, red-breasted robbins and snow.
But the story needs a closer look because familiarity may have dulled the edge of appreciation.
Luke has a great sense of how God has put down the mighty from their high places and exalted the lowly in the reversal of human standards. He cites the names of places in an order of decreasing importance. Commencing with a decree that affects the whole world, the picture centers on the province of Syria before narrowing down to the unpretentious town of Nazareth in Galilee and the small Judaean town, Bethlehem. Luke is aware that the movement would be reversed and that from Bethlehem and Nazareth the messasge of life would spread throughout Syria and reach Rome, the capital of the “world”.
The same descending movement is attached to the houses and dynasties mentioned. The story begins in the imperial palace of Caesar Augustus. It reaches the ancient royal house of David. But where the divine child is born is not even a house. Luke’s words are deliberate: “there was no place for them in the inn”. (Luke 2:7). Yet the divine reversal is hinted in the name of Bethlehem, which means the “house of bread”. Again Luke is aware that no house can contain the divine One who has come; yet for our sake He chose to be present in the Eucharistic bread. And He who came to feed the world’s spiritual hunger is first laid in the feeding trough of the dumb animals.
The people who are caught up in the story come to us in the same descending order. Luke begins with the emperor, Caesar Augustus. Next comes the governor of Syria, Quirinius: then Joseph and Mary, unknowns in the eyes of the world. Finally we meet the shepherds, poorly paid hirelings, commonly regarded as thieves and unwelcome at religious celebrations because of their smelly clothes and contraventions of religious hygiene.
Again Luke delights in the reversal of roles. Bethlehem had been the birthplace of David, who from the unlikely start of shepherd boy and youngest son became the nation’s greatest king. Now, to the other Bethlehem shepherds, is given news of great joy for the whole world. Into these humble places shines the light of glory. And unto such unimportant people comes the messenger angel and the great throng of the heavenly choir.
Luke always likes to follow up his description of action with a comment on the inner reactions of people to the event. He reveals something of the inner life of Mary who treasured these things and pondered them in her heart. Not just weighed them up: but Luke’s word indicates how Mary kept on connecting these happenings with later events. About the shepherds, Luke notes that they responded to the happenings by glorifying and praising God.
Christmas is the time to find the Savior in the most unlikely place of all …… in my own sinful soul. And to discover the Child in my own soul, capable of wonder and astonishment: willing to let go of self to rise into praise and glory.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of life, and for the gift of Your Son in whom we have eternal life. By Your Spirit, reveal to us the treasures held in the incarnation. Move us to love today, even if we do not feel like loving. Teach us to live like this Child, who teaches us that to give is to receive. Amen