The Christmas Narrative: A Mystical Reflection

 

In the depths of winter’s (Summer in South Africa) stillness, amidst the cold and quiet of the world, the greatest mystery unfolds: the Eternal Word becomes flesh, and Love enters creation in the form of a child. This is the story of Christmas—not merely a historical event, but an eternal truth that speaks to the heart of every soul.

As Meister Eckhart, Julian of Norwich, and the great mystics of old remind us, the birth of Christ is not confined to the manger in Bethlehem. It is an ongoing, universal birth that takes place within the soul of each one of us, if we are prepared to receive it. This is the Christmas story as seen through the eyes of the mystics: a narrative of divine love, humility, and the soul’s union with the Infinite.

The Eternal Word Made Flesh

As Meister Eckhart taught, the Word—the Logos—eternally speaks itself forth in the silent depths of the Divine Ground. This Word is not a sound but the essence of life, the creative breath of God, always birthing and sustaining all that exists. At Christmas, this eternal Word takes on human form, stepping into time to reveal the boundless love of the Infinite.

Yet this birth is not something distant. The same Christ born in Bethlehem is also born in the innermost ground of the soul. The humble stable, where Mary and Joseph found refuge, is a metaphor for the simplicity and stillness of our own hearts. It is there, in the quiet and overlooked places of our being, that the Christ seeks to be born.

The Virgin Mary: Model of Divine Consent

The angel’s message to Mary was not a demand but an invitation. Her "yes" was the act of complete surrender to God’s love, allowing the Eternal Word to take form within her. Julian of Norwich beautifully reflects on Mary’s role, showing her as the archetype of every soul that opens itself to divine grace.

Just as Mary bore the Christ-child in her womb, so too are we invited to bear the Christ in our hearts. The soul that consents to this birth becomes, like Mary, a vessel of divine love. Julian reminds us that God is both Father and Mother, and in Christ’s birth, we see the tender motherhood of God revealed—a love that nourishes, protects, and transforms

Bethlehem: The Stable of the Soul

Bethlehem, the "House of Bread," symbolizes nourishment, the place where God meets our deepest hunger. The stable, humble and raw, reflects the condition of our own hearts—imperfect yet beloved. Christ does not wait for us to be perfect; He enters into our lives as they are, transforming the ordinary into the holy.

As Meister Eckhart reminds us, the soul must become like Bethlehem, a place of receptivity and openness. The world may crowd our minds with distractions, but it is in the stillness, in the places we often neglect, that the Divine Light enters. The stable, with its animals and simplicity, teaches us that Love is born in the humblest of places.

The Shepherds and the Wise: Two Paths to the Divine

The Christmas story brings together two distinct groups: the shepherds, representing simplicity and humility, and the Magi, representing wisdom and seeking. The shepherds, attuned to the rhythms of creation, are the first to hear the angelic song. They remind us that the soul must be still and watchful to perceive the presence of God.

The Magi, following the star, symbolize the soul’s higher faculties—reason, intuition, and the search for truth. Their journey was long and arduous, yet they were guided by the inner light of divine wisdom. These two paths, the simplicity of the shepherds and the wisdom of the Magi, converge at the manger, teaching us that all who seek will find the Christ within.

The Universal and Eternal Birth

The mystics teach us that the birth of Christ is not confined to time and space. Julian of Norwich reminds us that "all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well," because Love is always being born, always renewing and redeeming creation. This eternal birth happens in the "now" of God’s presence, which is also the stillness within our own souls.

Meister Eckhart asks us, "What good is it to me if Christ was born a thousand times in Bethlehem but is not born in me?" This profound question invites us to move beyond the outer story of Christmas and enter its inner reality. The Christ-child longs to be born in each of us, bringing light to our darkness and peace to our restless hearts.

A Call to Contemplation

As we approach Christmas, let us not only celebrate the birth of Christ in history but also prepare for His birth in our own lives. The stable of our hearts may seem unworthy, yet it is there that God desires to dwell. Like Mary, let us consent to Love’s work within us. Like the shepherds, let us be attentive to the divine whisper in the stillness. Like the Magi, let us follow the inner light, even when the journey is uncertain.

In the spirit of the birth of the Christ - child within us, let  us draw near and read this poem in meditation and contemplation

From Eternity to You

Before time stretched its endless wings,

Before stars hummed their radiant songs,

I was.

And in My infinite heart,

I dreamed of you.

Not as distant clay, shaped and left,

But as breath from My breath,

Light from My light,

A reflection of Love’s endless dance.

You are not separate from Me,

But held, eternally, within.

When the world grew weary,

And shadows stretched long,

I descended—not in power,

But in tenderness.

I wrapped Myself in flesh,

In the smallness of a child,

To show you what Love looks like.

Not in palaces did I dwell,

But in stables,

Among the lowly,

For it is there, in the quiet and overlooked,

That My heart finds its home.

I called the shepherds—

Simple, watchful souls—

To hear the song of heaven

In the silence of the fields.

I guided the wise,

Who sought Me by the light of stars,

For all paths lead to Me,

Whether through wonder or wisdom.

And you, dear soul,

Are a Bethlehem.

A humble place, waiting.

The cluttered inn of your heart

May be filled with doubt and fear,

But I do not seek perfection.

I seek you.

Let Me be born in you,

In the stable of your spirit.

Let My light take root,

And grow into the fullness

Of all you were meant to be.

You are My beloved,

And I am your rest.

Like a mother, I nourish,

Like a father, I guide,

Like the stars, I lead you home.

And when you stray,

My arms stretch wider,

For Love never departs,

And all shall be well.

So, open the door.

Let the stillness of being

Become the birthplace of the Eternal.

Let the Word speak itself within you,

And sing the song of peace.

For you are not forgotten,

And you are not alone.

I am with you, always.

And in this Love,

All is made whole.

This is the essence of the Christmas narrative: that the Eternal Word, infinite and boundless, becomes flesh not only in Bethlehem but in each soul that opens itself to Love. The child in the manger is God’s assurance that "all shall be well," for in Him, heaven and earth are united, and all creation is held in the tender embrace of divine love.

A Closing Blessing.

May this Christmas be a time of stillness, where you open the stable of your heart to the Light of Christ. May you hear the angelic song within, see the star that guides you, and feel the eternal birth taking place in the depths of your soul. For the Christ who was born in Bethlehem longs to be born in you, bringing peace, joy, and the fullness of divine love.

"Behold, Love is born among us, and it shall never depart."

With love, the Mystic.