Today is the leave-taking of the feast of the Nativity of Our Lord, and it also happens to be the leave-taking of the year 2011. But the readings for the Liturgy (Mt. 12:15-21; 1Tim. 6:11-16) were chosen for neither reason, but only because today also happens to be the liturgical entity known as “the Saturday after Christmas.” I haven’t quite figured out why these readings were chosen, but I’ll give it my best shot.
In the epistle, St Paul tells us that God “dwells in unapproachable light,” that in his incomprehensible Divine Essence, no one has seen or is able to see Him. So this is perhaps a sort of prologue to the mystery of the Incarnation, to God’s great love and compassion for us sinners, who, even if we weren’t such sinners, are still severely limited as human creatures who cannot see God with the naked eye. Out of his Unapproachable Light, then, and out of his incomprehensible Divine Essence, the eternal Son of God came from Heaven into this world, setting aside his blinding glory so as to manifest Himself in a form that can be seen, that can be approached. It is in this form that Jesus makes it clear that He wants us to approach Him, for He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary… and you will find rest for your souls.”
This is the kind of thing in which we can quietly repose during the holy Christmas days, as we contemplate the mystery of God-with-us, of the humble and kenotic love of the One who came to save us from our sins. But in the midst of our blissful contemplation, St Paul, in this same reading, rouses us to get up and fight! “Fight the good fight of the faith,” he enjoins us; “take hold of the eternal life to which you were called; aim at righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” This list is similar to that of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. He goes on to say: “I charge you to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” As we contemplate the first appearing of Christ, we are already directed to be ready for the final appearing.
Evidently we just can’t make it through the Christian life without a fight. Despite the invitations to contemplation of the wonderful mysteries of God in Christ, we can hardly turn a page of the New Testament without finding some exhortation to fight, to struggle, to deny and discipline ourselves, to endure hardships patiently, to be strong, courageous, vigilant, to choose the way of truth, love, fidelity, and righteousness at all costs.
So, here is the Church’s message to us after celebrating Christmas for a week: get back to work, fight, be steadfast, keep the commandments! We get the impression from this exhortation that the Church would like to remind us that, despite all the pies and chocolates of Christmas, we are not yet in Paradise, we are still in exile, we’ve still got work to do, and there are still hordes of unclean demons who are firing their weapons at us all the time, with irreverent disregard for the festal interludes of the liturgical year.
Speaking of the liturgical year, perhaps the Gospel is meant to be something of a bridge between Christmas and Theophany, when we celebrate the baptism of the Lord. A passage of Isaiah is quoted: “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him…” That sounds a lot like what the Father said to Jesus as He rose up from the waters of the Jordan at his baptism. It is all the more so when we notice that the word for “servant” is not the term usually used in the New Testament (doulos), which ought to be translated “slave,” but is a more moderate term (pais) that can be translated “son” or “child” as well as “servant.” So, behold the beloved Son in whom the Father is well pleased, and upon whom his Spirit rests.
The passage ends by saying that in his name the Gentiles will hope. This indicates—at least for us who are still in the Christmas spirit—the mystery of Jesus’ manifestation to the magi, who represent the gentile world invited to come and worship the newborn Savior. The shepherds were the representatives of the chosen people, the Jews, which is why they got to see Baby Jesus first.
So, as the liturgical year advances inexorably, let us contemplate the mystery of Him who came out of his Unapproachable Light to manifest Himself in love to Jew and Gentile alike, as their only Savior. And, since we have received the grace of this manifestation and all that flows from it, especially in the sacramental and mystical life of the Church, let us rouse our strength and courage to fight the good fight of the faith, so that we may be found among those who have faithfully endured to the end and attained salvation through the grace, mercy, and love for mankind of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever!
