We love the beauty and simplicity of the first Christmas. We find ourselves in a cave filled with sheep, with Mary and Joseph pondering the mystery of the baby Jesus lying in the manger, trying to make sense of what the angel had said to each of them about the promised child.
Then, there was the sudden arrival and excitement of the shepherds, who had come to see the child whose birth had been made known to them. They, too, shared what the angels had told them. Far, far above, a bright star shone in silent witness to the birth of the infant king and, by the light of that star, the Magi continued their pilgrimage to Him from far-off lands. They brought gold for a king, frankincense for one who was divine and myrrh for one who was to die to be our Saviour.
Yes, it’s a lovely picture of beauty and simplicity. But, for each of those in the picture, there had been the invitation to let go and to struggle through the challenges and difficulties. And that is the same invitation that is made each Christmas, to let go, and journey through our struggles, challenges and difficulties. The pathway to such a journey can happen as we see the bigger picture of what Christmas is all about. Each of us is invited into the stable of Bethlehem to consider what each character might be saying to us as we celebrate Christmas, whether we are believers or not.
Years after Jesus’ death and resurrection, St Paul wrote to the people of Philippi on the coming of the Christ, saying: In your minds, you must be the same as Christ Jesus: His state was divine, yet He did not cling to His equality with God but emptied Himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as we are (Philippians 2: 5–7). So often today, we feel as though we have to be someone: to appear better, more attractive, more affluent and more powerful. But the example of the Christ-child is to become small, vulnerable and focused on others. His wonderful invitation is not to put ourselves above others, but to empty ourselves as we serve others and to recognise our common humanity. We can reflect on how we present ourselves to others. We can each ask: what do I need to let go of?
When the archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary, she was asked to set aside all the plans that had been made for her life. She was asked to be obedient to the Father’s will for her, to be open to the Holy Spirit and to embrace the Son in her womb and in her heart. “May everything you have said about me come true,” she told the angel. And, when she heard that her elderly cousin Elizabeth was with child, she rushed to her aid. Mary was a woman who gave of herself totally, and she passed on her way of living and giving to her Son. She did this humbly, pondering the mystery, knowing that she did not have all the answers. Mother and Son invite us to give of ourselves in a world that has so much need. They invite us to walk humbly on this earth rather than be indifferent to the cry of the planet and of the poor. They invite us to seek the beauty of truth, wisdom and wonder in every person we meet. We can each reflect on whether we are givers or takers. We can each ask: what do I need to let go of?
