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A Christmas Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian
TODAY the true sun is risen on the world, today a light has come forth in the midst of the darkened earth: God has become man, so I that man may become God in his turn; the Master takes upon himself the form of a slave, so that the slave may be converted to his Master. He who founded and dwells in the heavens has made his abode on earth, so that man, the earth-bound, may find a new home in heaven.
O day more brilliant than any sun! season for which all ages have longed! That which the angels were awaiting, that which the cherubim and seraphim and the ministering choirs of heaven knew not, has been revealed in our time. That which they viewed as a reflection in a mirror, we see face to face. He who spoke to the people of Israel through Isaias, Jeremias, and the other prophets, now speaks to us through his Son.
*St. Ephrem (4th Century). In Praise of Christmas.
Introduction
Christmas has become the major holiday in the United States of America. A case in point - yearly, 30-35 million real Christmas trees are sold in the States alone. There are 21,000 Christmas tree growers here, growing a Christmas tree for some 15 years before selling it.
Now, let us look at some of the history of this holiday. Then, we will address its Christian meaning.
Mid-Winter European Traditions
The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before Jesus, Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of winter was behind them, and they could look forward to longer days and more hours of sunlight.
In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice, through January. In recognition of the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. People feasted until the log burned up, which could take almost two weeks. The Norse believed each spark from the fire signified a new pig or calf that would be born the coming year.
The end of December was a perfect time for celebration in most of Europe. At that time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during winter. For many, it was the only time they had a supply of fresh meat. Also, most wine and beer made in the year was finally fermented and ready to drink.
In Germany people honored the pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holiday. Germans were terrified of Oden; they believed he made nighttime flights through the sky to observe his people and decide who would prosper or perish.
In Rome, where winter was not as harsh as in the far north, Saturnalia — a holiday in honor of Saturn, god of agriculture — was celebrated. Beginning in the week leading up to the winter solstice and continuing a month, Saturnalia was a hedonistic time. Food and drink were plentiful; the normal Roman social order was turned upside down. Slaves would be masters for a month. Peasants were in command of the city. Business and schools were closed so everyone could join in the fun.
Also, around the time of the winter solstice, Romans observed Juvenalia, a feast honoring Rome's children. Likewise, members of the upper classes often celebrated Mithra's birthday on December 25. Mithra was god of the unconquerable sun. People believed Mithra, an infant god, was born from a rock. For some Romans, Mithra's birthday was the most sacred day of the year.
Christmas in the Christian Faith
In the early years of Christianity, Easter was the primary holiday. Jesus' birth was not celebrated. In the 300s church leaders instituted Jesus' birth as a holiday.
The Bible does not mention a date for Jesus' birth - a fact Puritans pointed out to deny the legitimacy of the celebration. Although some evidence implies his birth may have been in the spring (Why would shepherds be herding in the middle of winter?), Pope Julius I (337-352) chose December 25 - the same day the Romans celebrated Mithra's birthday. It is commonly held the church chose this date to adopt and absorb traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival.
First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the 500s. By the conclusion of the 700s, the celebration of Christmas had spread all the way to Scandinavia.
Today, in the Greek and Russian Orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 days after the 25th, which is also referred to as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day. This is the day it is believed the three wise men, or magi, found Jesus in the manger.
By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders increased chances Christmas would be popularly embraced. But, they forfeited the ability to dictate how it was celebrated.
By the Middle Ages, Christianity had, mostly, replaced pagan religion. On Christmas believers attended church, then celebrated raucously in an intoxicated, carnival-like atmosphere similar to Mardi Gras in our time. Yearly, a beggar or student would be crowned "lord of misrule" and glad celebrants played the part of subjects. The poor would go to the houses of the rich and demand their best food and drink. If owners failed to agree, their visitors would likely terrorize them with mischief. Christmas became the time when the upper classes could repay their real or imagined "debt" to society by entertaining less fortunate citizens.
Christmas was not a holiday in early America — Congress was in session December 25, 1789, the country's first Christmas under the new constitution. Christmas was declared a federal holiday in the United States on June 26, 1870.
So much more could be said about the history and traditions that became our Christmas. Now, however, I wish to turn our attention to Scripture, which addresses the true meaning of the holiday.
The Spiritual Meaning of Christmas
4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons [and daughters].
*Galatians 4.4-5 (ESV)
All traditions of Christmas aside, and how its traditions took shape over time, Christmas is to lead us to the realization of an adoption. By nature we are all Spirit's offspring; yet, in Christ we are invited to be God's children by Grace. We are by nature of God, we can of Grace enjoy and grow in God.
Christmas is God becoming one with us and for us, that we might know freedom and mediate God to others in Love. This freedom is in realization, by Grace, of our essential nature in God.
Christmas takes on eternal - timeless - import. Christmas is about Christ birthing in and through you and me. Christmas, then, grounded in history, becomes a process of meta-history.
Yet, we can too easily think of this process as an individual matter. Now, we consider, therefore, the idea of Christmas as the Christ Mass. And, we see it is a communal happening, one pertaining to a specific faith Communion.
Christmas is, literally, the Mass of Christ. What is Mass? In the Latin Church and Orthodox churches, Mass is a divine and propitiatory sacrifice, the wine becomes Christ's blood, the bread becomes Christ's body. In the Protestant churches, focus is on either a spiritual, but not literal, Christ presence, or the Supper as commemorating Christ's Passion.
Therefore, calling Christmas the Christ Mass, we affirm that the holiday is a holy festival. Factually, this Mass has lost significance when it is not honored as a Feast of the Church.
Sadly, in the States, Christmas has polite overtones of Jesus' birth, and little more. Christmas has ceased to be a Mass, and it has become a gluttonous orgy of traveling, spending, eating, and drinking.
We recall Christmas is literally a holiday. That is, the Christ Mass is a holy day. This day, while holding traditions assimilated to its spiritual meaning, points us back to a historical event that is to become a meta-historical one.
A contemplative insight into the meta-historical role of Mary in Jesus' birth enlightens us to the spiritual meaning of Christmas:
Mary's union with God was so great that she was able to bring God physically into the world. All the images of the Old Testament referring to God's presence are crystallized in her. Having received the Word of God physically into her body, Mary contributed out of her human substance to the formation of the new divine-human person. The birth of Jesus was also the advent of a new aspect of time. The Greek word for "the appointed time" is kairos. The kairos is eternal time breaking into chronological time; it is vertical time cutting across horizontal time. As a result, the whole of the Mystery of Christ is totally available at every moment.
*Thomas Keating. The Mystery of Christ.
Christmas is a mystery, and was part of the early mystagogical instructions for early converts to Christian faith. This mystery invites us to bring God physically into our world, through the earthly elements of body and nature. God's Being can be crystallized in us, to the extent we, like Mary, make ourselves available to God's Presence. We do this, partly, by transcending linear time, and enacting with kairos through prayerful contemplation, and other spiritual practices that grow within us a likeness to Christ. Then, our intent is to grow to be so open to Christ that the whole Mystery of Christ witnesses to Its Presence through our very selves, here and now.
No, I am not saying only members of the historical Church can rightly celebrate Christmas. I am saying only in respect of the historical Church, as manifestation of the spiritual Body of Christ, and the Christ, Who is the fount of that Body, can the spiritual significance of Christmas be honored well. All persons, those who are in the historical Church and not, can catch a glimpse of the Heart of Love in the mystery of this Mass and its summons on our lives as persons and humankind. All faiths can be enriched, and all peoples blessed, through a well thought out and respectful celebration of Jesus' birth and the spiritual significance of His Being among us, in Spirit, then and now. Amen.
*For responses, write: barukhattah@embarqmail.com .
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*I am indebted much to www.history.com for the traditions pertaining to European pagan faiths and Christmas itself. St. Ephrem's prayer is found at www.crossroadsinitiative.com .
*Charitable contributions would be appreciated to assist Brian in continuing his ministry. For contributions, contact Brian at barukhattah@embarqmail.com .
*Brian's book of spiritual love poetry, An Ache for Union: Oneness with God through Love, can be ordered through major booksellers or the Cokesbury on-line store, cokesbury.com .
*Brian K. Wilcox, a United Methodist Pastor, lives in Southwest Florida. He is a vowed member of Greenbough House of Prayer, a contemplative Christian community in South Georgia. He lives a contemplative life and seeks to inspire others to enjoy a more intimate relationship with Christ. Brian advocates for a spiritually-focused, experiential Christianity and renewal of the Church through addressing the deeper spiritual needs and longings of persons.
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