Preceding the Nativity of Jesus Christ, there was a general expectation of the Saviour. The Jews expected His coming on the basis of prophecies, and all the prophecies relating to the coming of the Son of God had been fulfilled. For example, the Patriarch Jacob had foretold that the Saviour would come when the scepter would depart from Judah (Gen 49:10). The prophet Daniel had foretold that the Kingdom of the Messiah would begin at the seventieth week (490 years) after the issuance of a command concerning the restoration of Jerusalem, during the era of a powerful pagan kingdom, which would be as strong as iron (Dan 9:24-27). And, indeed, at the end of Daniel's seventy weeks, Judæa fell under the dominion of the mighty Roman Empire, while the scepter passed from Judah to Herod, an Idumæan by birth.
The pagans also, in misery from unbelief and a general dissipation of morals, expected a Deliverer with impatience. Men, having fallen away from God, began to deify earthly good things, wealth and worldly glory. The Son of God rejected these worthless idols as the fruit of sin and human passions and was pleased to come into the world under the most modest conditions.
Two Evangelists describe the events of the Nativity: Apostles Matthew (of the twelve) and Luke (of the seventy disciples). Since the Evangelist Matthew wrote his Gospel for the Hebrews, he set himself the aim of proving that the Messiah descended from the forefathers Abraham and King David, as had been foretold by the prophets. Therefore, the Evangelist Matthew begins his narrative of the Nativity of Christ with a genealogy (Matt. 1:1-17).
Knowing that Jesus was not the son of Joseph, the Evangelist does not say that Joseph begat Jesus, but says that Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, Who is called Christ. But why, then, does he adduce Joseph's genealogy and not Mary's? The Hebrews did not have the custom of reckoning genealogies according to the female line, but their Law commanded a man to take a wife without fail from the tribe to which he belonged. Therefore, the Evangelist, not deviating from custom, adduces Joseph's genealogy, to show that Mary, Joseph's wife, and consequently also Jesus, descend from the same tribe of Judah and clan of David.
The most holy Virgin, informed by the Archangel Gabriel that she had been chosen to become the mother of the Messiah, set out for a meeting with Elizabeth, being only the espoused bride of Joseph. Almost three months had already passed since the good tidings of the angel. Joseph, who had not been initiated into this mystery, noticed her condition; her outward appearance gave him cause to consider unfaithfulness. He could have publicly denounced her and subjected her to the severe punishment established by the Law of Moses, but, in accordance with his goodness, he did not want to resort to such a drastic measure. After long vacillations, he decided to put his bride away secretly, without making any publicity, having delivered to her a bill of divorcement.
But an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and declared that the bride espoused to him would give birth from the Holy Spirit; therefore he advised Joseph, 'fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife.' And he was further instructed to name the Son born of her Jesus (Ieshua), that is, Saviour, since He would save His people from their sins. Joseph recognized this dream as inspiration from on high and obeyed it, taking Mary as his wife, but knew her not, that is, he lived with her not as a husband with a wife, but as a brother with a sister (or, judging from the enormous difference in years, rather as a father with a daughter). In narrating this, the Evangelist adds for himself: Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14). The name "Emmanuel" means "God with us." Here, Isaiah is not calling the One born of the Virgin Emmanuel: he is saying that men will call him such. Thus, this is not the proper name of the One born of the Virgin, but only a prophetic indication that God will be in His person.
The holy Evangelist Luke notes that the time of the Nativity of Christ coincided with a census of the inhabitants of the Roman Empire. This census was carried out in accordance with the command of Cæsar Augustus, that is, the Roman emperor Octavian, who had received the title Augustus ("sacred") from the Roman Senate. The edict on the census came out in the 746th year from the founding of Rome, but in Judæa the census began approximately in the 750th year, during the final years of the reign of Herod, who was surnamed the Great.
The Hebrews reckoned their genealogies according to tribes and clans. This custom was so strong that, having learned of the command of Augustus, they went to be registered each to the town of his clan. Joseph and the Virgin Mary descended, as is well known, from the clan of David. Therefore, they went to set out for Bethlehem, called the city of David because David was born there. Thus, by God's Providence, the ancient prophesy of the Prophet Micah was fulfilled, that Christ would be born precisely in Bethlehem: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be a ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (Micah 5:2, Matt. 2:6).
According to Roman laws, women were subject to the universal census equally with men. Therefore, Joseph went to Bethlehem not alone, but with the Most Holy Virgin. An unexpected journey to his native Bethlehem, a journey so close to the delivery of the Infant, must have convinced Joseph that Cæsar's decree was providential, directing events for the Son of Mary to be born precisely where the Messiah-Saviour ought to be born.
After an exhausting journey, the elderly Joseph and the Virgin Mary arrived in Bethlehem. There was no room in the inn for the mother of the Saviour of the world, and she, with her companion, was forced to lodge in a cave, where livestock were driven from pasture during bad weather. Here, during a winter night, under the most wretched conditions, the Saviour of the world - Christ - was born.
Having borne a Son, the Most Holy Virgin herself swaddled Him and laid Him in a manger. In these brief words, the Evangelist informs us that the Mother of God gave birth painlessly. The Evangelist's expression, brought forth her firstborn son, causes unbelievers to say that, after Jesus the first-born, the Most Holy Virgin had other children, since the Evangelists mention the "brethren" of Christ (Simon, Joses, Judas and James). However, according to the Law of Moses (Ex. 13:2), every infant of the male sex that openeth the womb was called the first-born, even if he were the last. The so-called "brethren" of Jesus in the Gospels are not His own brothers, but only relatives, the children of the aged Joseph by his first wife, Salome, and also the children of Mary the wife of Cleophas (whom the Evangelist John calls his mother's sister). In any case, they all were much older than Christ and therefore could not in any way be the children of the Virgin Mary.
Jesus Christ was born at night, when everyone in Bethlehem and its environs was sleeping. Only the shepherds, who were watching over the flock entrusted to them, were not sleeping. Unto these modest men, who labored and were heavy laden, an angel appeared with the joyous tidings of the birth of the Saviour of the world. The resplendent light surrounding the angel amidst the nocturnal darkness frightened the shepherds. But the angel at once calmed them, saying: Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. By these words, the angel gave them to understand the true purpose of the Messiah, Who had come not for the Jews alone, but for all people, for joy would be to all people who would accept Him as the Saviour. The angel explained to the shepherds that they would find Christ, the Lord Who had been born, in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Why did an angel not announce the birth of Christ to the Jewish elders, to the scribes and the Pharisees, calling them also to worship the Divine Infant? Because these blind leaders of the blind had ceased to understand the true meaning of the prophecies concerning the Messiah and, on account of their exclusiveness and haughtiness, they imagined that the Deliverer would appear in the full splendor of a majestic conqueror-king, to subjugate the whole world. The modest preacher of peace and love toward one's enemies was unacceptable to them.
The shepherds did not doubt that the angel had been sent to them from God, and therefore they were counted worthy to hear the triumphant heavenly hymn: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men. The angels glorify God, Who had sent the Saviour to men, for from that time, the peace of the conscience has been restored and the enmity between heaven and earth, which arose as a consequence of sin, has been eliminated.
The angels withdrew, while the shepherds hastily set out for Bethlehem; they found the Infant lying in a manger and were the first to worship Him. They told Mary and Joseph about the event that had brought them to the cradle of Christ; they told the same to others also, and all that heard their story were astonished. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart, i.e., she remembered all that she had heard. The Evangelist Luke, who describes many events in the life of the Virgin, such as the Annunciation and the details of the birth of Christ (Luke, Ch. 2), evidently wrote from her words. On the eighth day after his birth, the Infant was circumscribed as prescribed by the Law of Moses.
"But while he thought about these things, behold,
an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying,‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid
to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is
conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Mt. 1:20).
From what the angel announced to Joseph, it is clear that the Virgin Mary had told him nothing of her earlier encounter with the great archangel, as it is clear that now, when Joseph intended to put her away, she did not justify herself in any way. The angel’s message, as all the heavenly mysteries that were gradually revealed to her, “she kept, and
pondered ... in her heart”(Lk. 2:19 & 2:51).
In her faith to God and obedience to Him, she shrank from no humiliation at the hands of men. “If my sufferings are pleasing to God, why should I not endure them?” said some of the Christian martyrs later. Living in constant prayer and
pondering on God, the Most-Pure Virgin was also able to say,“If my humiliation is pleasing to God, why should I not endure it? Only let me be
righteous before God, who knows the heart, and the world can do what it likes with me.” She knew this: that the world could do nothing to her unless
God allowed it.
What gentle humility before the living God this is, and what wonderful devotion to His will! And further—what a heroic spirit is seen in this delicate maiden: “The Lord is the strength of them who fear Him”(Ps. 24:13). While sinners in our day, as in all days, bring even false witnesses to testify for them, the Virgin Mary who had no man to testify for her, other than God almighty, did not justify herself. She was not disturbed, but
remained silent and waited for God, in His good time, to justify her. And God hastened to justify His chosen one. This same angel who had revealed to her the great mystery of her conceiving, made haste to speak now in place of the silent Virgin.
St. Nikolai Velimirovic
"But the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows:
After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with
child of the Holy Spirit" (Mt. 1:18).
Prior to this verse, the Evangelist had given the genealogy of the Lord Jesus—more precisely, that of righteous Joseph—from the tribe of Judah and the house of David. In this genealogy, the Evangelist listed men who were born from men in a natural way, such as all mortal men on earth
are born. He then suddenly begins to describe the Lord's birth in the following way: "But the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows..." With this but, he wants to show the unusual and supernatural nature of His birth, which is completely dissimilar from the manner of birth of all Joseph's recorded
ancestors.
Mary, His mother, was betrothed to Joseph. In the eyes of the world, this betrothal was seen as an introduction to married life; but in the eyes of Mary and Joseph it could not be seen like this. Sought with tears from God, the Virgin Mary
was consecrated to God by her parents' vow. She, on her part, voluntarily took this vow made by her parents upon herself, as is seen in her many years of service in the Temple at Jerusalem. Could she have followed her own inclinations, she would undoubtedly have spent the rest of her life in the Temple, like Anna the daughter of Phanuel (Lk.2:36-37). However, the law ruled otherwise, and so it had to be. She was betrothed to Joseph not to live in marriage with him, but in order to escape marriage.
St. Ignatius says that the Virgin was betrothed "that His birth should be concealed from the devil. So that the devil should think of Him as born of a married woman and not a virgin.""Before they came together..."
These words do not mean that they afterwards came together as man and wife, or that this was in the Evangelist's mind. The Evangelist is, in this case, interested only in the birth of the Lord Jesus, and nothing more. He writes the above words in order to show that Christ’s birth was without the coming together of man and woman. Therefore,
understand the wise words of the Evangelist as though they had been written thus: "and without their coming together, she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit."
How did Joseph react to the knowledge of the Virgin Mary's pregnancy? "Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly"(Mt. 1:19).
He acted, as we see, in obedience to God's law. He was obedient to God's will insofar as it had up till then been revealed to the Israelites. He also acted in humility before God.
"Justify not thyself," warns the wise Sirach (WSir. 7:5). That is, do not force too much justice on those who sin, but feel your own weakness and your own sins, and strive with mercy to lighten justice towards sinners.
Imbued with this spirit, Joseph did not consider giving the Virgin Mary over to justice for the suspected sin. "And not willing to make her a public example, he was minded to put her away
secretly." This plan of his shows us what an
exemplary man Joseph was: exemplary in justice and in mercy, such a one as the spirit of the old Law was able to instruct. With him, all things were as simple and clear as they could be in the soul of a God-fearing man.
St. Nikolai Velimirovic
It
is easy to forget the magnitude of the event of the Nativity of Jesus
Christ. This was an act of God akin to Creation itself.
Here is how Saint Gregory the Theologian views it:
Again
the darkness is past; again Light is made; again Egypt is punished with
darkness; again Israel is enlightened by a pillar. The people that sat
in the darkness of ignorance, let it see the Great Light of full
knowledge. Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.
The letter gives way, the Spirit comes to the front. The shadows flee
away, the Truth comes in upon them. The laws of nature are upset; the
world above must be filled.
It
was an event to give rebirth to all of mankind. It was God's gift so we
could return to the union with Him we enjoyed at the time of our
creation.
Saint Gregory says,
This
is our present Festival; it is this which we are celebrating, the
Coming of God to Man, that we might go forth, or rather (for this is the
more proper expression) that we might go back to God -that putting off
the old man, we might put on the New; and that as we died in Adam, so we
might live in Christ, being born with Christ and crucified with Him and
buried with Him and rising with Him.
As
we prepare for this mystical event we need to be sober, to prepare with
prayer and fasting, so we can be appreciative of this gift God has
given us and give thanks out of our unrestrained love for God. We need
this so we are not distracted from all the noise that surrounds this
season.
Saint Gregory says,
Let
us not adorn our porches; nor arrange dances, nor decorate the streets;
let us not feast the eye, not enchant the ear with music, nor enervate
the nostrils with perfume, not prostitute the taste, nor indulge the
touch, those roads that are so prone to evil and entrances for sin; let
us not be effeminate in clothing soft and flowing, whose beauty consists
in its uselessness, nor with the glittering of gems or the sheen of
gold or the tricks of colour, belying the beauty of nature, and invented
to do despite unto the image of God. Not in rioting and drunkenness,
with which are mingled, I know well, chambering and wantonness, since
the lessons which evil teachers give are evil. Let us not appraise the
bouquet of wines, the kickshaws of cooks, the great expense of unguents;
and let us not strive to outdo each other in temperance, and this while
others are hungry and in want, who are made of the same clay and in the
same manner.
Finally he asks us to leap with joy as did John the Baptist in his mother's womb.
Now
then I pray you accept His Conception, and leap before Him; if not like
John from the womb, yet like David, because of the resting of the Ark.
Revere the enrolment of account of which you were written in heaven, and
adore the Birth by which you were loosed from the chains of your birth,
and honour little Bethlehem, which has led you back to Paradise; and
worship the manger through which you, being without sense, was fed by
the Word . . . If you are one of those who are as yet unclean and
uneatable and unfit for sacrifice, and of the gentile portion, run with
the Star, and bear your Gifts with the Magi, gold and frankincense and
myrrh, as to a King, and to God, and to One Who is dead for you. With
Shepherds glorify Him; with Angels join in chorus; with Archangels sing
hymns. Let this Festival be common to the powers in heaven and to the
powers upon earth. For I am persuaded that the Heavenly Hosts join in
our exultation and keep high Festival with us today . . . because they
love men, and they love God ... just like those whom David introduces
after the Passion ascending with Christ and coming to meet Him, and
bidding one another to lift up the gates.
This
is the time to focus all our actions on the glorification of God and
avoid the degrading commercialization of this most important event for
the salvation of mankind. All we do during this time preceding the feast
of the Nativity should be to heighten our appreciation of the great
gift and glorify Him.
St Gregory the Theologian
'And
when the fullness of time was come, God sent His only-begotten Son'
(Gal. 4:4), to save the human race. And when the ninth month had come
after the archangel Gabriel appeared to the most holy Virgin in
Nazareth, saying: 'Hail) thou that art highly favoured... thou shalt
conceive and bear a son' - at that time a decree went forth from Caesar
Augustus that all the inhabitants of the Roman Empire be taxed. In
accordance with this decree, everyone had to go to his own town and
there be inscribed. Therefore righteous Joseph came with the most holy
Virgin to Bethlehem, the city of David, for they were both of the royal
House of David. But, there being a great many people in that small city
for the census, Joseph and Mary could not find a lodging in any house,
and found shelter in a cave which the shepherds used as a sheepfold. In
this cave the most holy Virgin gave birth to the Saviour of the world,
the Lord Jesus Christ. Bearing Him without pain, as He was conceived
without sin of the Holy Spirit and not of man, she herself wrapped Him
in swaddling bands, worshipped Him as God and laid Him in a manger. Then
righteous Joseph drew near and worshipped Him as the divine Fruit of a
virgin womb. Then the shepherds came in from the fields, directed by an
angel of God, and worshipped Him as Messiah and Saviour. The shepherds
had heard a multitude of angels singing: 'Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, goodwill among men' (Luke 2:14). At that time there
also came wise men from the East, led by a wonderful star, bearing their
gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh, and worshipped Him as King of
kings, offering Him their gifts (Matt. 2:11). Thus He came into the
world Whose coming had been foretold by the prophets and Who was born in
the way that they had prophesied: of the most holy Virgin, in the city
of Bethlehem, of the lineage of David according to the flesh, at the
time when there was no longer in Jerusalem a king of the tribe of Judah,
but Herod the stranger was on the throne. After many types and
prefigurings, messengers and heralds, prophets and righteous men, wise
men and kings, finally He appeared, the Lord of the world and King of
kings, to perform the work of the salvation of mankind that could not be
performed by His servants. May His be eternal glory and praise! Amen.
St. Nikolai Velimirovic
