The Mystery of Christmas

Those of us living in the west are fortunate that the celebration of Christmas falls in the darkest week of the year. In this time of physical darkness Christ’s birth brings light into our lives in a very vivid and evocative way. The reality of the darkness highlights the coming of Christ as the light of the world. He came to enlighten our lives with love, joy and peace. Even many people without faith prepare for this mid-winter festival and become touched by the spirit of joy and kindness that surround it. Yet for some the reality of peace may seem unattainable. In these days when there is so much suffering in the world, from war, famine and a series of pandemics, how can we understand the message of peace?

Edith Stein reflected on this in a lecture entitled ‘The Mystery of Christmas’ which she gave in January 1931. She points out that on the very day after the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child we celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian Martyr and then two days later, the Feast of The Holy Innocents, murdered so brutally on the orders of a jealous and fearful king.

Edith goes on to say, ‘What is the meaning of this message? Where now are the jubilant sounds of the heavenly choir? Where the peaceful bliss of Holy Night? Where is the peace on earth? Peace to those of good will; but not all are of goodwill. Therefore the Son of the Eternal Father must leave the splendour of heaven because the mystery of evil has wrapped the earth in dark night.

Darkness covered the earth and he came as light to illumine the darkness, but the darkness did not comprehend him. To those who received him he brought light and peace; peace with the Father in heaven, peace with everyone who like them are children of light and children of the heavenly Father, a deep interior peace of the heart; but no peace with the children of darkness. To them the Prince of peace brings no peace but the sword…This is the one hard and serious fact which we may not allow to be obscured by the visible attraction of the Child in the manger. The mystery of the Incarnation and the mystery of evil belong together…The child in the manger extends his little hands, and his smile seems to be saying what would come forth later from the lips of the man: ‘Come to me all you who are weary and heavy burdened’; and the poor shepherds out on the hills of Bethlehem, who heard the good news of the angel, follow his call and make their way with the simple answer, ‘Let us go to Bethlehem’. Also upon the kings from the orient lands, who followed the wondrous star with such simplicity, there dropped from the Infant hands the dew of grace and ‘they rejoiced with great joy’. These hands give and request at the same time: you wise men, lay down your wisdom and become like children; you kings give up your crowns and your treasures and bow down meekly before the King of Kings; do not hesitate to take up the burdens, sorrows and weariness which his service demands. You children who as yet cannot give of your own free will, of you these little hands will request your gentle life before it has even begun; it can serve no better purpose than sacrifice in praise of the Lord.’

We can never plumb the depths of the Mystery of Christmas but we know with Isaiah that

‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Upon those who dwelt in the land of shadow a light has shone.’