“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:4-5)
“And the shepherds went with haste, and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in a manger. And having seen, they made known what had been told them concerning this child.” (Luke 2:16-17)
As we continue in the joy of the Christmas Octave, the Church in her wisdom presents us with readings that illuminate the mystery of Christ’s incarnation and the response it demands from us. Titus 3:4-7 and Luke 2:15-20 converge on the theme of divine generosity and human receptivity, a fitting meditation for the Seventh Day after Christmas.
The Kindness and Mercy of God Manifested
Saint Paul’s words in Titus 3 underscore the gratuitous nature of salvation. The “kindness and love of God” is not merely an abstract ideal; it is personified in the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. Saint John Chrysostom, reflecting on this passage, writes, “God’s mercy is not passive but active, breaking into human history in the person of His Son, for no one could ascend to Him unless He first descended to us.”
This merciful descent is not conditioned on our merits but flows purely from the inexhaustible love of God. The Church Fathers, particularly Saint Augustine, emphasized this in their theology of grace. Augustine asserts in his Enchiridion: “It is not by our works that we are justified, but by the gift of grace which comes through the laver of regeneration.” In the sacrament of Baptism, we are not merely cleansed but reborn, participating in the very life of the Holy Trinity.
The Shepherds: Icons of Receptivity and Evangelization
In the Gospel, the shepherds embody the proper human response to God’s self-revelation: faith, wonder, and proclamation. Their haste to see the Christ Child signifies the urgency with which we must respond to grace. Saint Gregory the Great remarks in his Homilies on the Gospels: “The shepherds are vigilant by night because the light of divine revelation often illumines those who keep watch over their souls in the darkness of this world.”
Finding the Holy Family, the shepherds do not remain silent. They proclaim the angelic message, becoming the first evangelists of the Good News. The humility of their station does not hinder their proclamation. Rather, it magnifies the truth that God reveals Himself to the lowly and the pure of heart, as Mary herself proclaimed in the Magnificat.
Mary: A Model of Contemplation
The Gospel notes that Mary “treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.” This contemplative posture is essential for fully receiving the mystery of God’s incarnation. Saint Ambrose, in his commentary on Luke, writes: “Mary preserved the word of God not in her ears, but in her heart. For the truth is grasped more by love than by reason.”
Her silent meditation contrasts with the shepherds’ public proclamation, reminding us that the Christian life requires both active witness and interior contemplation. Together, they form the rhythm of a life attuned to God.
Living the Mystery of Christmas
In these readings, we are invited to marvel at the boundless mercy of God and to respond with the eagerness of the shepherds and the contemplative heart of Mary. The washing of regeneration spoken of in Titus reminds us of our baptismal calling to be heralds of Christ’s light in a darkened world.
As we conclude the Christmas Octave, let us heed the words of Saint Leo the Great: “Christian, recognize your dignity! Having become a sharer in the divine nature, do not return to your former base condition.” Let the wonder of Christ’s birth renew our zeal for holiness and deepen our gratitude for the mystery of Emmanuel, God with us.
May the grace of the newborn Savior inspire us to proclaim His love with joy and to treasure His presence with awe. In this way, the light of Christmas will continue to shine brightly in our lives and in the world.
Liturgical Prayer for Reflection:
O God, who in the fullness of time revealed Your mercy in the birth of Your Son, grant that we, who ponder this mystery, may proclaim Your salvation with joy and persevere in the hope of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.