(LifeSiteNews) — At no time in history has the birth of Christ been so easily glossed over, as if merely a pretty little children’s fable — and yet for this reason, we desperately need to meditate upon Christ’s birth more than ever. With so many sleepwalking through life, the Light of God’s Incarnation amid the world’s darkness takes on a new meaning.
From the moment we awake until the wee hours of the morning, we can distract ourselves with the glittering entertainment of our devices: whether through real contact with others, or voyeurism, or doomscrolling, or shows, or games … and the great mysteries of our existence are all but forgotten, at best an afterthought.
It is no secret that these comforts are only emotional band-aids, and in some cases even aggravate anxiety and depression. Because if there is any disturbance in our soul, let alone any disturbance in the world, it is for one reason alone: We do not intimately know God.
What prevents us from drawing close? Distractions, certainly. But also fear — fear of approaching God in our sinfulness; fear that God may not be able to truly save us from our sin; fear of letting go of our sinful attachments.
We can imagine, then, why God — who having created the human soul, understands it perfectly — wanted us to remember that His Son, Jesus Christ, entered the world as a baby. Even one hard-hearted enough to be unmoved by the tenderness and helplessness of a mere infant will be less hesitant to approach such a vulnerable being than a formidable kingly man.
And this is God’s desire, that we can take heart in approaching Him. Looking upon Christ as a baby, as He was really born, softens our hearts; it helps us to be less mindful of the shame of our sin and more mindful of His mercy and love; and it helps us even to momentarily forget our sinful attachments and draw near to Christ in spite of them.
Even more, the circumstances of His birth will impress grace upon our soul if we let them. Meditating well on His birth will mellow any cynicism or bitterness, malcontent or resentments. If we are struggling to make ends meet — well, even He who created time was born into poverty; if we are lowly, He was born among the beasts of the earth; if we are ostracized, forgotten, or hated, He and His holy family were rejected by the townspeople of Bethlehem.
The Christ Child’s purity and innocence is a balm amid the baseness of our world; His humility is enchanting amid our own obnoxious pride; His silence is a refuge amid the world’s noise.
If we pause long enough to meet Him, we’ll find the infant Christ Jesus is the unexpectedly perfect remedy for our soul and our world. Let us draw near to Him, and cling to Him always.
