 Ethiopian Christmas image |
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For those of us brought up in Christian faith or who have close contact with it, the feast of the Saviour’s nativity needs little explanation, it is ingrained in the very fabric of our lives, but it is worthwhile to pause awhile and feast our hearts and minds on the immensity of love pouring into the world through the celebration of this festival.
The liturgical texts and readings are so rich, yet so familiar, we know them well, but for us familiarity does not breed contempt, it generates a deep yearning to find again that gift given so willingly and abundantly through Mary’s child, Emmanuel, God who is with us!
Though we celebrate a birth in time, we are actually there in the constant enveloping of God’s time, that of the moment of eternity that bursts into daily life: God’s time which changes the pattern of life itself. God is with us. Now, today, in Christ God is one of us, today his birth places him as the first born of countless men and women, children though our relationship with him of the unseen God, but this is someone who identifies not with power and might but is unafraid to pitch in his lot with all those in poverty, loss, suffering, everyday , loving service is his mark, total self-giving is his way!
The Christmas story strips away from us the layers of deceit and arrogance, false pretensions and selfishness:. Instead in humility of heart we hear Isaiah reminding us that before any humans recognize the Christ, it is the animals , who we often treat so badly, that know their maker,;’ The ass knows its master; the donkey its owners manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand! (Is 1.3). As we prepare for Pope Francis Encyclical on the Environment in 2015, maybe this Nativity might be a time to renew our respect and appreciation for God’s handiwork in other forms of life and nature, for in the nativity all are one, all are reconciled again!
St Ephraim the Syrian (306-373) whose hymns are now being rediscovered by the Western church puts this feast into a wonderful word frame full of hope and rejoicing.
The feast day of your birth resembles You, Lord
Because it brings joy to all humanity.
Old people and infants alike enjoy your day.
Your day is celebrated
from generation to generation.
Kings and emperors may pass away,
And the festivals to commemorate them soon lapse.
But your festival
will be remembered until the end of time.
Your day is a means and a pledge of peace.
At Your birth heaven and earth were reconciled,
That is the deep and ancient prayer of hope which we renew in our silent worship at the crib , creche and icons of the nativity today. Earth and heaven may not yet be fully reconciled but in symbols of the ox and the ass, the camel and sheep, the shepherds and kings, angels and ourselves, animals all, we shall know the love of the Christ Child again!
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