Advent #3 Mystery
Mystical Nativity, Sandro Botticelli
Reflection
The picture can be broken down into three clear zones. In the sky above the nativity, clouds part to reveal a golden sphere symbolising heaven, where twelve graceful angels dance in a circle. Each carries an olive branch from which is suspended a crown and a scroll. The Holy Family is placed in the central section of the picture, flanked by wise men and shepherds wearing crowns of olive leaves. In the bottom section, palm-bearing angels proclaim peace, joyfully embracing virtuous men while seven demons flee defeated to the underworld. Peter Drury, Painting the Christmas Story.
Scripture: Luke 2:8-16
And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about’. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
Reflection
The mystical tradition states that God is both unknown, unseen and known and seen.
At one moment the shepherds on night shift are accosted by one angel and they are afraid. Then…an heavenly host burst into life, filling the night sky. The phrase ‘fear not’ captures the heart of the story of the incarnation – awe at seeing two worlds as one.
Someone you speak to but never encounter physically is always remote and ‘other’. In the incarnation, God who is ‘other’ becomes one of us. We cannot look into the face of God but we can look into the face of Jesus. The baby in the manger has no need to say ‘Fear not’.
The mystery then is a paradox. The awe-inspiring utterly transcendent God can also look upon us from the face of a helpless child. While his glory fills the heavens, the Son of God lies in a manger.
Why are you afraid of God?
Look into the face of a baby, or at a small child.