Photo: pravoslavie.ru
“Thou wast born secretly in a cave, O Savior, yet Heaven
proclaimed thee to all, as with a mouth, revealing the star.”
Quietly, silently, the Son of God descended to earth and became incarnate. As a drop of dew falls to the earth, so the power of the Most High overshadowed the Most Pure Virgin, and the Savior of the world was born of her.
But the world didn’t notice this great work of God. Everyone was busy with his own cares, his attention focused on everyday affairs and momentous worldly events.
Rome was consolidating its authority and state power over the nations. Greece was cultivating the arts and indulging in refined devotion to the flesh. The peoples of the East were seeking answers to all the needs of the spirit in the phenomena of nature.
The Jews ardently thirsted for liberation from foreign power and were awaiting deliverance in the person of the Messiah—an earthly king.
However, earthly affairs didn’t bring men satisfaction, even when they were successful. The spirit’s longing for truth was felt ever more strongly, and there was a sense that the world, mired in vanity and vice, was heading for destruction.
Not only the Jews were waiting for a Deliverer, but the best of the Gentiles also awaited Someone Who would save mankind from destruction.
But each imagined His coming according to his own understanding, and being themselves carnal, couldn’t conceive of the spiritual. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom (1 Cor. 1:22).
No one was expecting a Savior Who was meek and humble in heart, robed not in earthly but in Heavenly glory.
Yet such was He Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4).
Not with outward force or boastful wisdom did He come to reign over the nations, not “terrifying with apparitions” (prayer of the blessing of water), but in the form of a servant the Savior came to take upon Himself the sin of Adam, to bear the burden of mankind, being accessible to all.
For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many (Mk. 10:45, Mt. 20:28).
Accordingly, He is born in a cave, in a small town, to which, at the time of the census, there came a family rich only in virtues—the family of the poor carpenter the righteous Joseph.
No one living on earth could have imagined that the Deliverer would appear in such destitution, that the One who reigns over all creation would come to mankind in this way.
And even the prince of this world at that time—the proud adversary of God, the devil—was deceived and didn’t recognize in the One Who was born the One Whom he envied when he was still an angel. The eternal mystery of the salvation of mankind, hidden from his power, could be known only to those who heed the voice from Heaven and direct their gaze there.
The shepherds heard the angels hymning Christ’s coming in the flesh—those poor Bethlehem shepherds, whose only source of wisdom was the open book of God’s wisdom revealed in the beauty of His creation, untouched by the sinful hand of man.
And to all the rest of mankind, which didn’t hear the angelic song, Heaven itself—by the bright light of the shining star—seemed to proclaim, as though with its own mouth, that He came unto His own… the true Light, Which lighteth every man that cometh into the world (John 1:11, 9).
Heaven spoke to everyone, declaring the glory of God (cf. Ps. 18:2). But only the Magi-kings, who sought there a revelation of God’s providence and were ready to go anywhere to find the truth, understood the voice of Heaven. Having gathered their treasures to offer a gift to the newborn King, they left their thrones, their native land, and set out, not knowing where, following only the course of the star that announced to them the path to the eternal Kingdom.
The path was arduous but illuminated by the light of the Bethlehem star. And the wise men-Magi, overcoming all obstacles, renounced their own will and followed the path indicated by Heaven. The star led them to Jerusalem, where they heard the written word of God, and then to Bethlehem, where they beheld the Incarnate Word, God in the flesh, and worshiped the Sun of Righteousness.
The world continued to rage with its passions.
Herod, having learned of the birth of the eternal King, sought to kill Him; failing to find Him, he killed a multitude of babies, but was unable to kill the One secretly born in a cave.
This mystery remained hidden for those living according to the elements of this world. “He stood amidst men, and they knew Him not” (cf. Jn. 1:10).
He revealed Himself gradually only to those with pure hearts, seeking the truth, ready to stand for it, and also to those who desired the purification of the heart, who were ready to surrender their own will to that of Heaven.
And the time came—the light of Bethlehem shone upon the farthest reaches of the universe.
Now the world is raging again! Some are ready to kill the Infant and strive to erase His Name; others seem not even to notice Him. Yet He stands among us, revealing Himself to those who search out His testimonies and seek after Him with their whole heart (Ps. 118:2). “The heathen raged and the people imagined vain things! With an iron rod, like fragile vessels, He will shatter those who provoke His wrath” (cf. Ps. 2).
And the Star of Bethlehem once again shines invisibly over the world, calling all nations and every man to lift their gaze to Heaven, to open their hearts, to fall down before the Newborn, and to rejoice with great joy, for God is with us!
“God is with us. Understand, all ye nations, and submit yourselves: For God is with us!”
Christ is born!
