An infant whimpers. His mother smiles. She caresses and kisses him. He smiles back. She breaks his gaze and looks out into the night outside; she ponders. Her husband gathers the child in his arms and rocks him slowly; he sings to it softly. The child closes its eyes and returns to its slumber; it sleeps soundly.
The child does not speak. It cannot speak. And yet, his mother and father hear a tiny voice in their hearts — a voice that speaks and says slowly: Be still and know that I AM.
I love to imagine the nativity scene this way. I love to imagine Joseph and Mary taking turns holding the child, kissing it, and letting themselves be caught up in His gaze. He, an infant, has conquered their hearts, for He has brought them peace.
The Christ Child
When we read today’s readings, keeping in mind that we have started the journey to Bethlehem, we might see them directing our attention to the Christ Child. Our first reading directs our mind to a savior whose reign shall establish peace. “Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; The calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them” (NABRE, Isaiah 11:6). It is a savior upon whom the Spirit of the Lord shall rest (Ibid, 11:2). But how then shall this savior appear? Shall he descend upon earth like a Son of Man? Shall he come blazing a sword flanked by angels who appear like flashes of light? Shall he smite the land as Yahweh did against Sodom Gomorrah?
No; he will appear as a child “wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). He will appear as one helpless and needy, as one desperate for love and affection. And that shall be the savior.
But how can this be? How can the savior appear like a child and hope to win? What about the learned and the wise? Will they not be the ones to conquer and rule the land? How then can we hope to be saved? For heaven’s sake, it is only a child.
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).
Childlike
I like to think Christ says to each of us the following words: ‘I became a child to remind you that you also need to become one. You, too, must become an infant because only then can you hope to receive my Father’s love.’ Only there can you hope to conquer the hearts of your fellow men.’
In real time, Christ says, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will” (Luke 10:21). Christ knows that the secret sauce lies in that manger.
But he knows our pride.
He knows how hard it is for us to step low, and so, He offers Himself to us as a child so that we will hold him, so that we will rock and kiss him, so that we will sit there and be still. And then when we have quieted our hearts, holding the Christ Child close, we will hear him say to each of us: Be still and know that I AM. And then, He will have won. He will have conquered our little hearts, once and for all. And we will join Simeon and acclaim, “Lord, now let your servant go in peace, your word has been fulfilled, my own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel” (Luke 2:29-32).
Draw close to the Child in the manger and let His countenance and cry for love melt and win the heart that is already His.
