The Catholicity of Christ’s Cradle

“Nations shall come to Thy light, and kings to the brightness of Thy rising.” — Isaiah Ix. 3.

THE birth of Christ was the meeting of three continents — Europe, Asia, Africa. Europe appeared in Herod; he represented the power of Rome. Asia appeared in the ‘’wise men of the East;” they represented the wisdom of Persia. Africa appeared in the escape of the infant Jesus; it was a flight into Israel’s old home — the land of Egypt. Each brought a different atmosphere to the Cradle of Bethlehem. Rome brought the life of the West — the active, practical, working life. Persia brought the life of the East — the deep, meditative, intellectual life. Egypt brought the shadows of a life beyond the earth — the attempt to read the great secret of death. And the Christmas Child has met these three human cravings — the cry for work, the cry for knowledge, the cry for a life beyond. He has met Rome by the offer of a new field for human energy. He has met Persia by the opening of a new gate of knowledge. He has met Egypt by the revealing of a life beyond death. The Child-Jesus has given more than He got. It is He that has brought the gold and frankincense and myrrh! Three things are represented by the nations round His cradle — body, mind, spirit — Rome, Persia, Egypt. And He has met them all. He has brought what Rome loved — new strength to the body, new power of physical endurance. He has brought what Persia loved — fresh fields of investigation, fresh liberty to explore. He has brought what Egypt loved — the prospect of a deathless pyramid, the hope for an immortal thing.

All these wants are mine, O Christ; in Thee I have become one with all nations! To Thy cradle I come with the nations. I bring the Roman’s craving for the body. I bring the Persian’s craving for the treasures of the mind. I bring the Egyptian’s craving for a h(Uise not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Give my soul the things Thou hast brought to the nations! Give me the strength Rome sought — the strength of Thy Gethsemane! Give me the light Persia sought — the knowledge of Him who is the source of all knowledge! Give me the vision Egypt sought — the power to see a thing which will not pass away! Then will this be to me a happy Christmas. Then will this Christmas make me a complete man — a man all round. Then will three worlds be mine — the material, the mental, the eternal. I shall be more athletic than the Roman when I have Thy resurrection body. I shall be more studious than the Persian when I obtain Thy view from the Mount. I shall be more devout than the Egyptian when I see Thine Immortal Life unveiled on Olivet. Be these Thy Christmas gifts to me, O Lord; so shall I learn the brightness of Thy rising I