by Joan Mitchell, CSJ
Christians celebrate Christmas just after the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere. In nature, daylight imperceptibly lengthens. In the first reading a great light dawns on a people in darkness. In the gospel a life begins that changes the world.
Dawn is the birth time of day. Faint light sets the eastern horizon aglow and streaks clouds with rosy tints. Dawn is the moment birds begin to sing, waking cats from their dreams. This is the hour of Jesus’ resurrection from the darkness of the tomb—the hour of God’s new creation.
Birth pushes a baby out of the dark security of a mother’s womb into the shared and challenging world of other people. Birth is a journey from silence to voice. We count our lifetimes from this moment. Christmas celebrates the significance of Jesus’ whole life in his birth.
In Luke’s account the world sleeps at the time of Jesus’ birth except the shepherds who are awake watching their flocks in the fields. Angels bring to them the good news from heaven for earth—a savior is born.
This newborn child embodies new promise and purpose for the human race. In him, God becomes human that we humans might become divine.
This child whose first resting place is a lowly manger among animals will reveal the One no one had ever seen before. In Jesus, we will see the glory of God. We count our years on earth from his birth.
- Take turns describing the Christmas card, decoration, custom, carol, or family moment that has most touched you with what Christmas is about this year.