What
was the very first Christmas like? And what does Christmas mean for
us today?
Joseph
and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the required census.
Most likely a donkey carried the Virgin Mary, who was 9 months
pregnant. Perhaps they stopped and rested now and then allowing the
donkey to eat and drink water by a stream.
As
they rested, Mary felt the unborn Jesus move inside Her womb. Joseph
was tense because he knew traveling would be difficult for Mary. If
the babe was to be born, he wanted to provide a warm comfortable
place, worthy of the King of heaven. But, it was not in God’s plan.
They
finally arrived in Bethlehem, on that cold winter night, going from
door to door, looking for a place to stay. Knowing full well, it was
time for the infant Jesus to be born, they trusted God would provide
a place where the Child would come into the world. Where would it be?
Would it be in an Inn, would it be in a stranger’s home, would
anyone have pity on a young woman, about to give birth?
Mary
and Joseph were disheartened by so many who refused to allow them
stay the night. Bethlehem was filled with travelers who came home for
the census. All Mary and Joseph wanted was a dry warm place for the
arrival of the baby Jesus, but where?
As
the sun disappeared, and stars began to shine, darkness covered the
little town of Bethlehem. Finally, a maid servant pointed the couple
to a cave with animals. At least it was dry and out of the cold wind.
There
in the cave--- were animals, an ox, a cow and a few sheep. It smelled
of hay and animal manure.
Joseph
removed the animal waste and cleaned the floor of the cave. He put
clean straw in the manger used as a crib. He found wood for a fire
and warmth was felt by Mary as She prayed near the flames. She knew
it was time.
Just
as Joseph went to get fresh water and was but a stone’s throw from
the cave, suddenly, Mary laid down on her blanket and within a few
moments, the Virgin Mary gave birth to baby Jesus in a miraculous
manner without labor pains. Suddenly light filled the cave as the
dawn from on high broke, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and
the shadow of death.
Despite
the fact, Mary had wrapped Him in swaddling clothes. The coldness of
the night caused the newborn baby Jesus to shiver and His breath
could be seen.
Why
does the whole world celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus in a cave
with animals over 2000 years ago? And what does it mean to us?
The
words of the angel help us to know why the birth of Jesus was so
important. He said, “Be
not afraid; for behold, I bring to you good news of great joy which
will come to all the people; for you is born in the city of David a
Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Recall
that when Joseph was visited by an angel telling him to take Mary
into his home because it was by the Holy Spirit She conceived, the
angel said he was to name the child, Jesus, which means “savior”.
We
celebrate his birth because the world’s savior was born. Jesus came
to save us from our sins, to reconcile the world to the Father, to
give us an intimate relationship with God. Before Jesus came no one
could go to heaven. But now since the Savior has come, sins can be
forgiven, the gates of heaven are opened. His birth would eventually
lead to His death on the Cross. And by His Cross we are set free from
the yoke of sin.
Jesus
is Lord, which means He rules over us. He is Christ which means He is
the long awaited messiah, the anointed one, who came to restore
mankind back to God after the fall of Adam and Eve.
Moses
had always wanted to see God’s face, but could not. The prophets of
the Old Testament predicted that someday His face would shine upon
us. Now, Mary and Joseph were the first to see the face of God.
Imagine what it would be like for Mary, for the very first time, to
hold the baby Jesus in Her arms and gaze on His face.
For
months, every now and then, Mary would feel baby kick within Her
womb. But, now She can see Him, hold Him, hug Him, kiss Him and talk
to Him face to face.
In
your meditation on the birth of Jesus, picture yourself in the cave
and watching everything happen.
In
the corner of the cave, you are seated on a bale of hay, and because
its cold, you are wearing a coat trying to stay warm. Then the Virgin
Mary stands up carrying the infant Jesus in a blanket and walks over
to you. To your astonishment, with outstretched arms, She hands you
the Child. You hold the baby Jesus to your chest, and as you gaze
upon His face, He smiles at you, but He shivers due to the cold. What
do you say to Him?
“O,
Jesus, You cause the sun, the moon and the stars to move across the
sky. You make the sun rise and set and the moon to wane and wax. In
the spring, you make flowers and fields bloom and grow. You are
all-powerful. Almighty. All holy. All knowing. All Glorious. Pure
love. You are infinite in every way. And yet, you take the form of an
innocent child, who can’t walk, talk or eat without help. You hide
your divinity, under the appearance of a baby, just as you hide under
the appearance of bread in the Eucharist. You don’t look like God,
but you are. You are fully God and fully man.
When
Mary and Joseph carry you from place to place, You submit to their
human daily activities, and yet, You created the ground they walked
on. You placed water beneath the surface of the earth, so wells could
be dug and animals can be nourished and humans can drink and have
their clothes washed. In Your humility, you walked about looking only
like a man. You allowed humans, whom You created, to persecute You,
to cause You pain and suffering and even Your death. You humbled
Yourself to carry a Cross. Because You are God, you could have
avoided being spat upon, slapped, blind-folded, scourged and crowned
with thorns. Knowing all that would happen, You could prevented
everything and destroyed those who were going hurt You. But, You
chose to show us the meaning of love, forgiveness and peace by your
willingness to do endure Your Passion and death.
You obeyed Your Father, who sent you to be spread the good news, and
die for it. The tree from which You hung on Good Friday, You created.
Millions of years before the stone carved from the side of a hill
was used to make your grave, you foresaw it would be used as your
tomb.
You
came into the world in poverty and humility. You showed us it’s not
necessary to have material things, but that we should use them to
help others and for us to obtain to heaven.
O
Jesus, you were born in the city of Bethlehem, which means, House of
Bread. You are the true Bread from Heaven, who came down to give life
to the world. As a babe, You were placed in a manger, used to feed
animals. Today, you hide yourself in what appears to be bread, and
during Mass, it becomes the true and real Bread of Life in the
Eucharist to spiritually feed us.
By
your humility and hiddeness, You teach us, all worldly things pass
away and we should rejoice and be glad, that You came to save us and
bring us to our true eternal home in heaven.
I
love you baby Jesus. I worship You. I adore You, whom the angels
adore in heaven. I beg You, open up your little hand and stretch it
forth-- to bless the world bestowing on it peace, end all violence,
stop all wars, console the sorrowing. Help families and friends and
enemies to forgive and love each other. When anyone sees Your little
face, melt their hearts to accept You, as their personal friend and
Savior. May those same hearts grow in empathy and compassion for the
poor, the downtrodden, the sick, and the lonely.
May
those caught in the snares of sin, be delivered, by the tenderness of
Your mercy, O loving Savior.
May
Your holy Name, the name of Jesus, the name which is above every
name, be always on my lips and in my Heart. May I call upon you in
times of turmoil, sadness and in every need.
O
Jesus, lover of mankind, may the whole world kneel before the manger.
May you, O Jesus, your Mother Mary, and your step-father Joseph, make
all families a place of peace, joy, and love and may the whole world
rejoice in Your birth and sing with the angels,
“Glory to God in the highest and peace to His people on earth.
Amen.”