This is the only day within the Christmas Octave which is not a saint’s feast. During the Octaves of the Epiphany, Easter and Pentecost the Church is so absorbed in the respective mysteries that she puts off everything that could share her attention, whereas during this of Christmas, there is only one day which does not celebrate the memory of some glorious Saint and our Infant Jesus is surrounded by a choir of heroes who loved and served Him. Thus, the Church, or, more correctly, God — for God is the first author of the Cycle of the Year — shows us how the Incarnate Word, who came to save mankind, desires to give mankind confidence by this His adorable familiarity.
We have already shown that the birth of our Lord took place on a Sunday, the day on which, in the beginning of the world, God created Light. We will find, later on, that His Resurrection also was on a Sunday. This, the first day of creation and the first of the week, was consecrated, by the old pagans to the Sun: with us Christians, it is most sacred and holy on account of the two risings of our divine Sun of Justice — His Birth and His Resurrection. While the solemnity of Easter is always kept on a Sunday, that of Christmas falls, by turns, on each of the days of the week — we have already had this difference explained to us by the Holy Fathers — but the mystery of Jesus’ birth is more aptly and strongly expressed when its anniversary falls on a Sunday. Other years, when the coincidence does not happen, the Faithful will at least be led by their Christian instincts to give special honour to the day within the Octave which falls on the Sunday.
Epistle – Galatians iv. 1‒7
Brethren, now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he differs nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the father: So we also, when we were children, were serving under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent His Son, made of a woman, made under the law: that He might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying: “Abba, Father” Therefore now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an heir also through God.
Thanks be to God.
Dom
Prosper Guéranger:
The child that is born of Mary and is couched in the crib at Bethlehem, raises His feeble voice to the Eternal Father and calls Him, My Father! He turns towards us and calls us, My Brethren! We, consequently, when we speak to His Father, may call Him, Our Father! This is the mystery of adoption revealed to us by the great event we are solemnising. All things are changed, both in Heaven and on Earth: God has not only one Son, He has many Sons. Henceforth, we stand before this our God, not merely creatures drawn out of nothing by His power, but children that He fondly loves. Heaven is now, not only the throne of His sovereign Majesty, it is become our inheritance in which we are joint-heirs with our brother Jesus, the Son of Mary, Son of Eve, Son of Adam, according to His Human Nature and (in the unity of Person) Son of God according to His Divine Nature. Let us turn our wondering and loving thoughts first to this sweet babe that has brought us all these blessings, and then to the blessings themselves, to the dear inheritance made ours by Him. Let our mind be seized with astonishment at creatures having such a destiny! And then, let our heart pour out its thanks for the incomprehensible gift!
Gospel – Luke ii. 33‒40
At that time, Joseph and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning Him. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother: “Behold, this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be contradicted; and your own soul a sword will pierce, that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.” And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was far advanced in years, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow until fourscore and four years; who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day. Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord; and spoke of Him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel. And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong, full of wisdom; and the grace of God was in Him.
Praise be to you, O Christ.
Dom
Prosper Guéranger:
The passage of the Gospel selected for this Mass, though bearing on the Divine Infancy, yet gives us, and we may almost say prematurely, the terrible prophecy of Simeon regarding the dear babe of Bethlehem. The heart of Mary, that was overflowing with joy at the miraculous birth of her child, is here made to feel the sword spoken of by the venerable Priest of the temple. Her Son, then, is to be but a sign that will he contradicted! The mystery of man’s being adopted by God is to cost this child of hers His life! We that are the Redeemed in His Blood, we may not yet dwell on the fatigues and the Passion and the Death of our Emmanuel. The time will come for that. At present we are forbidden to think of Him other than the sweet child that is born to us, and the source of all our happiness, by His having come among us. Let us catch up the words of Anna, who calls Him the Redemption of Israel. Let our eye delight in the sight of the Earth regenerated by the birth of its Saviour. Let us admire and study well this Jesus newly born among us, and adore, in humble love, the wisdom and grace that are in Him.
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On this the sixth day since the birth of our Emmanuel, let us consider how the Divine Infant lies in the crib of a stable, and is warmed by the breath of the ox and the ass, as Isaias had foretold: “The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master’s crib; but Israel has not known me” (Isaias i. 3). Thus does the great God enter that world which His own hands have created! The dwellings of men are refused Him, for man has a hard heart for His God, and an indifference which is a real contempt. The only shelter He can find to be born in is a stable, and that necessitates His coming into the world in the company of poor dumb brutes.
At all events, these animals are His own. Work. When He created the irrational world of living things, He subjected it, as the inferior part of creation, to Man. And Man was to ennoble it by referring it to the Creator. When Adam sinned, this subjection, this harmony, was broken. The Apostle teaches us that the brute creation is not insensible to the degradation thus forced upon it by sinful man (Romans viii. 19, 20). It obeys him with reluctance. It not infrequently rebels against and deservedly punishes him. And on the day of judgement, it will take the side of its Creator and avenge itself of that wickedness of which man has made it the unwilling instrument (Wisdom v. 21). In the mystery of his birth the Son of God visits this part of His creation. Men refused to receive Him, and He accepts the hospitality of the dwelling of brutes. It is from their dwelling that He begins the divine career of the Three-and-Thirty years. The first human beings He invites into the company of His blessed Mother and His dear Saint Joseph, the first He admits into the stable to see and adore Himself, are shepherds who were busy watching their flocks, and whose simple hearts have not been corrupted by the atmosphere of cities.
The Ox — which, as we learn from Ezechiel (Ezechiel i. 10) and Saint John (Apocalypse iv. 7) is one of the symbolic creatures standing round God’s throne — is the figure of the sacrifices of the Old Law. The blood of oxen has flowed in torrents upon the altar of the Temple: it was the imperfect and material offering prescribed to be made to God until He should send the True Victim. The Infant Jesus who lies in the crib is that Victim, and Saint Paul tells us what He says to His Eternal Father: “Sacrifices, and Oblations, and Holocausts for sin, you would not have, neither are they pleasing to you. Behold! I come! (Hebrews x. 8, 9).
The Prophet Zachary (Zacharias ix, 9, quoted by Matthew xxi. 5) foretelling the peaceful triumph of the Meek King, says that He will make His entry into Sion riding upon an Ass. We will assist, further on in the year, at the accomplishment of this prophecy. Now that we are at Bethlehem in our Christmas mystery, let us observe how the heavenly Father places His Divine Son between the instrument of His peaceful triumph and the symbol of His Sacrifice on Calvary.
Ah dear Jesus! Creator of Heaven and Earth — how strange is this your entrance into your own world! The whole universe should have given you a welcome of love and adoration — and yet, what motionless indifference! Not one house to take you in! Men buried in sleep! And when Mary had placed you in the crib, your first sight was that of two poor animals, the slaves of him who proudly rejected you! Yet this sight did not displease you — for you do not despise the work of your hands. What afflicts your loving Heart is the presence of sin in our souls, the sight of that enemy of yours which has so often caused you to suffer. Oh hateful sin! We renounce it, and wish, dear Jesus, to acknowledge you for our Lord and Master, as did the Ox and the Ass. We will unite in that hymn of praise which creation is ever sending up to you by henceforth adding to it the homage of our adoration and gratitude. Nay, we will lend speech to nature, and give it soul, and sanctify it, by referring all creatures to your service.
