The spirit of Christmas

IN REREADING THE Christmas story or in reading it to our children, it is important not to be lulled into familiarity. Coming as it does at the start of the New Testament and as the foundation of a new Covenant between God and humanity, the story of Christ’s birth is rather startling.
There we were in something old and well established; a story which begins with the Creation and takes us through Abraham, the Patriarchs, the Exodus, the historical writings, the poetic writings and the Prophets, and suddenly something new begins. It’s been promised in the Old Testament, it does not cancel or diminish what happened previously, but it’s different, it’s puzzling and it marks a new beginning.

A fresh beginning

Mary, Mother of Jesus, is both a sign of a fresh beginning and is herself caught up in this movement. Who is she, barely a woman, still a virgin, who not only manages to sit through one of the most astounding proposals in history, but also accepts it?
And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. (Luke 1:31-33) Instead of remaining at home and trying to understand the consequences of this Good News, Mary sets off through the hills of Judea to care for her ageing cousin Elizabeth, who is also with child. Elizabeth greets her cousin with joy and Mary responds with a poem, a song, about the greatness of what is happening to her. My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour... (Luke 1:46-47)
Mary remains with her cousin for three months and then returns to her home. However, she is once again projected into unsettling circumstances. She and her new husband must travel to Bethlehem, at the order of the Emperor Augustus, in order to be counted in the census, and, while they were there, the time came for her to deliver the child. Couldn’t Jesus have been born in Nazareth, where Mary would have been helped by the women of her family? There was nothing about a trip in the angel’s proposal. Couldn’t they at least have had a quiet room at the inn? No, there was no room, so Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger.

Jesus’ birth: a departure

Jesus’ birth marks a departure from the old way of perceiving things, but it is also departure for everyone, including his mother. Mary’s life is transformed by the coming of Jesus; so is Joseph’s; so is that of the shepherds in the fields, who were minding their sheep at the time of Jesus’ birth. This event transforms them and sets them on a new path.
The news of Jesus’ birth provokes a physical change, a move, a departure, a change of attitude and of mentality. It was so for Mary, for Joseph, the shepherds, the disciples and it is so for us as well, here and now.
We too have heard the Good News and are called to let it transform our lives. Obviously, we are often distracted by our daily preoccupations or by world events, but we are constantly called back to this path we’re invited to follow.
Mary’s journey did not end at Jesus’ birth; neither did her mission. First, she had to care for the child, feed him, watch over him and teach him everything a child must learn. Then, when he was grown, she actively participated in his mission, remaining with him through the horror of the Cross and waiting with the disciples for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Mary must have often been surprised by what was happening to her. Like us, she was hurt and felt pain. Imagine losing your 12 year old son while on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem? Imagine searching for him for three days before finding him? Imagine watching your child killed for a crime he did not commit? Mary’s faith helped her cope with these events. Our faith can also help us.
Mary trusted in God, knowing that God would be faithful and knowing that what God had promised would come to pass. Mary is sometimes portrayed as being passive, but I don’t believe she was. She was likely what we now call being ‘pro-active’.
God’s promise to Mary filled her life and gave her a sense of what she was to do, even though she did not know what would happen from one day to another. There is much to learn in the Christmas story if we have ‘ears to hear’.
As the year 2002 approaches, our world is faced with many challenges and opportunities. In the past few months alone, there were the tragic events of September 11th in the United States, the declaration of a war on terrorism and of a ‘Holy War’ against western ways and America in particular, as well as a massive refugee crisis in Afghanistan. In themselves, these events are having many repercussions, but, of course, the problems of the world do not start and end there. There is still so much poverty, violence, distress, fear and anger, there are still so many problems, conflicts and areas of concern. One can easily be plunged into despair or overcome by a sense of powerlessness.

Trust in God’s love

Christmas, however, invites us to borrow another path, that of hope and of trust in God’s great love for us. In that sense, it remains very much a new departure. Like Mary, we are called to faith and are asked to respond in good faith. We must open our hearts and our minds to the wonders of God’s love. We must let this love transform us and show us the way. Like Mary and Joseph, we will need to trust in God and in the goodness of humanity. We will act, if that is what is needed. We will search, if we’re not sure what to do. When faced with difficulty, we will not lose hope and we will remember that a challenge can often be an opportunity for something new and something good. The Christmas story is not just another story or even a much-loved story. We become actors in it.
Sometimes, we are asked to be like Mary; sometimes, we are asked to be Joseph, but it is not really role-playing. In fact, it is about being ourselves, but like people who have heard the Good News and who have witnessed its transforming power.
We’re never too young or too old to play a part in this great pageant. It’s never too late to start, and we never make too many mistakes to stop trying. Even if we’ve failed miserably in the past, even if we’re struggling, even if we’ve been overcome by despair, we’re invited to participate. At Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:10-11), when the angel of the Lord tells the shepherds, Do not be afraid; for see - I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people, he is not just speaking to the shepherds. He is speaking to all of us. A merry and holy Christmas to all!