Miracle of the Birth of Jesus
“While they were there, the time came for her to have her child”.Only few words were needed by St. Luke to tell about the greatest event in human history.
It is not easy for people to describe the miracle of Christmas, but it is invariably undertaken by poets, writers, painters, theologians and philosophers. We are amazed by the depth of their thoughts, we try to remember important sentences, we are impressed by the beauty of verses and the artistry of the masters of painting. All these works amaze and delight us, but they do not speak with such force as the simple, seemingly naive texts of the Gospel. Read over and over again, each time they appear fresh and unknown. As you become familiar with the Gospel, you can find out that it is impossible to know it, but only to getting to know it more and more deeply. "And our lives will not be enough to know the Gospel to the end," writes Fr. Jacek Salij. - Because it only begins with words and ends with being in the presence of God who saves man. "
Apart from the authors of the Gospels, the Church Fathers wrote about Christmas most beautifully. They were able to explain and show every word of the Gospel in the splendor of Revelation. Why does an angel say to Joseph, "she will bear a son"? "The angel does not say, as he did to Zechariah: she will bear a son for you. She did not conceive from her husband, and she will not bear a son to her husband, but to the entire world,” explains Saint John Chrysostom. He also explains why the Magi came from the East: “The beginning of faith came from where the day is born. Because faith is the light of souls. Why did the Magi see the Star of Bethlehem? “The angels point out Christ to the shepherds, to the magicians - the star. In both cases it is the language of heaven "- replies St. Augustine.
The Church Fathers dispel the doubts of modern historians as to the place of birth of the Savior. "He was rightly born in Bethlehem," states St. Gregory. - Bethlehem means: House of Bread. And He says of himself, I am the living bread which came down from heaven." The order of the words in the Gospels is also important for them. The angel says to Joseph: "Get up, and take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt," which St. Gregory explains: “He doesn't say: Take the mother and her Child, but vice versa. Because the Child was not born for the mother, but for the Child, the mother was prepared.”
The outstanding theologian of the 20th century, Romano Guardini, described Christmas as the quietest of all events, removed from all the chaos of the world by God's will. “For the greatest things are accomplished in silence—not in the clamor and display of superficial eventfulness, but in the deep clarity of inner vision; in the almost imperceptible start of decision, in quiet overcoming and hidden sacrifice.”
Heaven became earth and earth became heaven. We are completely lost and no longer knows where we are: in heaven or still on earth. Because God gave us a share in himself and wanted to take part in what is ours. In Jesus, the natures have become completely united, but not mixed up at all. The universe was speechless with amazement when it saw what happened because everything changed in it. Even time has stopped with a cry of amazement and an eternity has come, in which we unite with God. And all through that night, the holiest of the nights. This night is eternal, this night will never end, this night will last forever.
What happened, can be said, that amazed the Creator himself, who did not expect that His work could be so wonderful, so incredible. So, God rejoiced in His Tripartite Unity and looked with delight on this brightest night. And He took away all sin, destroyed all weakness, and dispelled all darkness of evil. Thanks to this will of God, today everything is brought directly to his Face. And through Jesus this Face is the face of man! He is the Face that shone in the night and became the Light. It is a Face that you cannot take your eyes off it. This Face is full of pleasure and joy. Because this night is the night of God's gaze, who sees that everything is incredibly good.
Merry Christmas
fr. george