First Christmas, Marian angels and tradition

by Miran PERERA

Incarnation or the birth of Christ is the mystery of God becoming man. Jesus the son of God becomes man for our redemption. Christ means the anointed and in Hebrew Jesus means saviour. The baby born on Christmas day 2009 years ago is also the only begotten son of the father. So while we are sons of God by adoption Jesus is son by nature. This is the mystery of Christmas. Baby Jesus born on the first Christmas day had the virgin Mary for his mother and St. Joseph as his father. Mary gave birth to Jesus on that first Christmas day in a cow shed as there was no room for them at the inn.

Born amidst very frugal circumstances that first Christmas, Jesus is true God because he is God’s son and equal to his father in all things. The realization of prophesies foretold in the old Testament regarding Jesus and the establishment and preservation of God’s church are other testimonies of Jesus’s divinity. But Jesus was also truly man because he had a human body.

Understanding and accepting the message of that first Christmas means living with Christ Jesus. In our history as intelligent men and women Jesus remains the salvation for ever and for all. That is he remains as the answer to the supreme questions tormenting man and the grace for rising out of evil and living in the perspective of eternity. We have to bring this meaning of the first Christmas into our minds, into our lives and into our human and Christ ideals. Manians of today is bewildered by so many contrasting ideologies and shocked by so many dramatic and dolorous phenomena. There is a need to know with certainty that in spite of all this confusion and turmoil there is great hope and joy because God became man, Christ was really incarnated for us and for all humanity. On that first Christmas the saviour announced by the prophets came and has remained with us.

An angel is a pure spirit created by God. The old testament theology included the belief in angels, the name applied to certain spiritual beings employed by God as the ministers of his will. The English word (Angel) comes from the Greek angels which means messenger. In the old testament with two exceptions the Hebrew word for angel is Malak also meaning ‘Messenger’. Psalm: 91:10 - 12 says ‘No evil shall befall you nor shall affliction come near your tent for to his angels God has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways. Upon their hands they will bear you up lest you dash your foot against a stone.

The doctrine of angels is part of the churches tradition. The role of the angels is both to guide us to good thoughts works and words and to preserve us from evil. When the Virgin Mary the mother of Christ was proclaimed blessed together with your fruit of the womb by the angel and was also proclaimed blessed for having believed, Mary replied ‘yes’ but she changed the person whom she addressed for she began to speak to the Lord and raised a marvellous song of praise known as the ‘Maganificat’ to the Lord. The Magnificat is the real song of songs of the New Testament.

What really happened on that first Christmas night in Bethlehem cannot be really contained within a small space. To learn all about it we have to study the events according to the words of prophet Isaiah. What power is on the shoulders of this child who did not have even a simple roof over his head at the moment of his entry into this world? The child who had a manger for animals as his crib? We ask ourselves about this power during that first Christmas night in Bethlehem the power which this new born bears with him to the world. We hear that together with the angel who announced the birth of the Saviour to the shepherds a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying ‘Glory to God in high heaven and peace on earth to those upon whom his favour rests or men of Goodwill.

For most people the traditions practised at Christmas time are of greater significance. A beautifully decorated Christmas tree complete with a star or an angel on top, a roasted turkey for the traditional Christmas lunch and the Christmas cake are found in many homes for Christmas celebrations. For children the most interesting event is the arrival of Santa Claus with all those long awaited gifts. When taking a look at the history and origins of Christmas we find that some customs and beliefs practised in the old days have a resemblance with the modern day celebrations. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter.

Our social and cultural values are being influenced by the global media that enter every home. We see inequality everywhere. We have to rethink our lives as Christians and make our celebration of Christmas more realistic. It is necessary to bring about a deeper understanding of the true meaning of Christmas. This is a call for us to rethink our way of understanding our Christian responsibilities. A call for a simpler lifestyle. A commitment to the value of family life. Christmas can be an occasion for this not merely at Christmas but throughout the year. In the words of Joseph Girzone; ‘christmas is a hard reality. It is an answer to the worlds longing from the beginning of time.

The story of salvation began with the birth of Mary according to some Marian theologians. Nothing would have been accomplished if this very special person had not come on earth, who became the bride of God, the Mother of God but also the enemy of sin. Mary’s most holy name did not stand out because of her own wishes but through the will of the father. Although hidden in work and prayer in love and sacrifice Mary was spoken about from the beginning. We will realise this after reading the gospel. Mary is a protagonist. In the old testament Mary is already present and seen as the only one who will succeed in overcoming Lucifer. Mary lived extreme experiences.

Mary experienced the greatest happiness of being the Mother of the son of God. Mary’s role is unique and fundamental not only because she made the birth of the redeemer possible, but because it was she who could free us from the devil and his persecutions. There was great expectations among the Jews at the time when Jesus Christ was about to be born, and this was heightened by the personal appearance of angel Gabriel firstly to Zacharias the priest and then to Mary who was betrothed to Joseph. We notice that angels can stand in the glorious presence of the Lord, where as men cannot. Angels are sent to do whatever God wishes. According to revelation the angels who participate in the life of the Trinity in the light of glory are called to play their part in the history of the salvation of man.

This is believed and taught by the church on the basis of sacred scripture from which we learn that the task of the good angels is the protection of people and solicitude for their salvation. Now we have to rethink our lives as Christians and make our celebration of Christmas more realistic. It is necessary to bring about a deeper understanding of the true meaning of Christmas. This is a call for us to rethink our way of understanding our Christian responsibilities. A call for a simpler lifestyle. A commitment to the values of family life. Christmas can be an occasion for this not merely at Christmas but throughout the year.