Let us come away from the city and the world: let us forget it for awhile, and go back in memory a thousand years and more, back to Palestine, to little Bethlehem, the town of prophecy. We want to spend Christmas in a holy manner, we want to find our happiness in higher things than wealth can buy. So we shut our eyes to the shops, to the theatres, to the family gatherings even, and open them in Juda's princely town.
It is midnight and there is a hush, and a holy calm. On the hill-tops watchful shepherds lie in solemn silence guarding their sheep; in the crowded city the tired people sleep at last. We pass through the deserted streets, pass the inn that could find no shelter for the Virgin Mother; go through the eastern gate and look out for the shepherds' cave. There is vigil there. Joseph and Mary were at prayer when, the Word made Flesh, dwelt amongst us.
Heaven in earth! Do you not understand? Now at last the yearning of the Creator is being satisfied. He longed to lift men to Himself, to lift earth to Heaven. And men would not be lifted up. Rather they sank lower and lower. But the infinite love did not tire, nor grow cold. It watched and waited, and, at last, stooped down and touched the earth with Heaven; God became man, became a little Child. Justice and mercy kissed and the result was peace to men; blessed, eternal peace between Heaven and earth. Now men would be lifted up, now they would join their hands and, raising their eyes to Heaven, say: "Our Father, who art in Heaven." "No man hath seen the Father but the son," and He, the little new-born Child, was to explain Him to men. He was to explain Him by the winning ways of His Babyhood, by the graces of His Boyhood, by the breaking heart of His Manhood. He was to captivate human souls. With His human love He was to win them, and, holding them fast, show them that loving Him they were loving God. So Christmas Day became the earthly birthday of divine love.
What then does this Birth mean, this opening flower of infinite, eternal love! To us men it means a copious redemption, an heirloom of graces; the beginning of unending companionship, a divine brotherhood, a pledge of eternal life. To Mary it meant great joy, sorrow unsurpassed; to Saint Joseph a mystic fatherhood, the highest trust upon earth. To Jesus, the Great Little One, it meant overflowing love, and what love always brings - sorrow, suffering, sacrifice.
Let us come near to this dear little One. Let us kiss His tender hands and feet before they are wrapped in the swaddling bands. Let us try to meet the look of love in His eyes with an answering look of love. He holds nothing back from us, He is all ours. Are we prepared to be as sweeping in our sacrifices? Today on His birthday we can surely refuse Him nothing. If the silent lips ask, can we refuse? If the Baby heart is set upon something that we can give, shall it not have it? He comes in so winning a form, fearing no repulse. Is our heart proof against such confidence?
The midnight hours pass; the light of early day creeps into the dark cave; streaks of sun-rays find their way upon the dark wall and gild Mary's hair as she stoops over the little stone manger. Presently a tramping of feet is heard without, then there comes a sudden stop, then a low whispering, and then the sim's gleams cease for an instant and dark figures penetrate the cave. They are the shepherds from the neighboring hills and they come, angel-bidden, to see "the word that was to come to pass, that the Lord had shown them." With wondering awe they draw near to Mary's side, and kneeling by her, adore their Savior, Christ the Lord.
What a beautiful sight the angels saw that Christmas morning! All that was fairest upon earth was there. The little King holding his court, with the Queen-Mother by His side; Joseph, foster father and guardian, silent in his adoration; the courtiers, simple, humble souls so ready to obey when the message came from above. In the world's eyes these were common people of the peasant class surrounding an ill-built manger where a new-born Baby lay, nursed by a young Mother. But we will not think of the world today. We will keep our minds fixed on the mystery wrought.
As the day advances other simple souls come flocking in from the mountains and hamlets - the shepherds' wives and children mostly, and herdsmen from other parts. They too in silent rapture adore the new-born King. Meanwhile the story of the wonderful night is told again and again, and the good folk listen and wonder "at those things that are told them by the shepherds. But Mary keeps all these words, ordering them in her heart." She welcomes sweetly every new comer, and presents the divine Child to each. But her thoughts are upon mysteries unknown to any but herself and the tiny Babe upon her lap.
Evening comes and the shepherds take their leave. They kiss the Infant hands and bid farewell to Mary and Joseph. Then standing on the threshold of the cave with the cool air fanning their foreheads they cast back one last look upon the Infant face that has made such a change in their lives and return to their mountain-side, "glorifying and praising God for all the things they have heard and seen, as it was told unto them."
Did you ever think what glorious men those shepherds were? They were chosen out of the million by the God who cannot err, to come and adore. They must have had special qualities to endear them so to their Creator. We see them on the hill-side faithfully watching; we see them surrounded by "the brightness of God." We see the angel give them his message and invite them to the King's first court upon earth. We hear the rapt songs of the angel choirs singing "Glory to God in the heavens, and on earth peace to men of good will." We see them deliberate amongst themselves, saying, "Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is to come to pass which the Lord has shown us." Then we see them set off with haste and come into the Divine presence. Not a minute's doubt as to the angel's word darkens their minds; not an earthly consideration keeps them back - they leave the sheep they have tenderly watched all night to take care of themselves; they have a higher call and God is first in their hearts. And so good a use do they make of their visit to the manger that they leave the heavenly Presence in ecstatic joy, glorifying and praising God. Who would not envy them their sheepskins and their poverty! "They understood the word the Lord had shown them! Theirs was that spiritual insight given to a privileged few of God's holy ones which is worth more than all the world can give. Let us ask them to pray for us that one day such a gift may be ours, too.
Now what is the practical outcome of all this? We cannot stay with Jesus and Mary and Joseph in the manger, or with our Blessed Lord in the Sacrament of His love. We hear our three Masses, receive Holy Communion, linger at the crib making our thanksgiving there. But we must return to our own world as the shepherds did. And how are we to return? Praising and glorifying God as they did, singing Gloria in excelsis as did the angels. This is our lesson today; to have joy in our minds, praise on our lips, love in our hearts - love for all mankind and especially those nearest to us. Charity begins at home, we hear people say. But very often the proverb is reversed. Many feel acutely for neighbors or strangers, who are callous to their own relations. This is mistaken charity. These things you ought to have done and not left those undone, our Lord said. Those nearest to us often try us, fret us, worry us. And if we are patient we think we are heroic. One step further would make us so and cost but little more. It takes more out of us to be merely patient than to be tenderly loving. For love soothes us and our neighbor, and overcomes friction. Let us throw our hearts open wide to all as our Lord did.
A wide love must be a pure love, for it must be unselfish. With such a love we should take our neighbors' faults for granted, look for ingratitude, take selfishness as a matter of course. Then we should not be charitable on business principles, expecting our money's worth with the interest. We should give and not count the cost, look for no return here below, but leave the revenue part of it to our Lord.
So we turn homeward with the intention of spreading joy everywhere, smoothing away difficulties, being sunbeams in the house, or the shop, or school, wherever our lot is. And doing it all for the love of the Babe - Jesus, who has won our hearts this day and for ever.
- taken from Light from the Altar, edited by Father James J McGovern, 1906