As we approach the Christmas Festival the longing of the world for the coming of the Saviour is expressed with urgency in prayer: "O Lord, raise up (we pray thee) thy power, and come among us . . ." There is widespread yearning for the influence of the Prince of Peace in the peoples of all nations, including the island of Ireland.
The bells of the Church of the Holy Nativity, Bethlehem, will sound forth their undying message of peace and goodwill. Visitors from all over the world, on seeing the traditional place of the Nativity, are surprised that its main entrance is so very small in relation to the large building there. A guide will explain why the doorway is so small. It forced the faithful to bow humbly on entering! It prevented the desecration of a sacred place by keeping out the horses of irreverent, disrespectful infidels.
Speakers may point to the little doorway to emphasise the need for believers to be humble as they must bow in approaching Christ. In the Christmas story it is important to notice and dwell upon the humility so evident in those closely involved in that superlatively important event in the history of the world.
"Christ, Who had always been God by nature, did not cling to His prerogatives as God's Equal, but stripped Himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born as mortal man. The true humility, characteristic of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is beautifully expressed in her words accepting her destiny from God - Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me according to thy word."
In the village scene at Nazareth the amazing man, Saint Joseph, shows a lovely humility in facing a unique event. He knew the bliss of the God-controlled life. Saint Joseph's humility is seen in his tender thoughtfulness of Mary, and his close hearing and heeding of the God he served. "Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife."
The meaning of words like meekness or humility change. Nowadays they may suggest spinelessness, subservience, and mean-spiritedness, so very different to the humility both noble and strong seen at Bethlehem. "Meekness (or humility) is confident dependence upon God, who will in His own good time vindicate His people by making them the inheritors of the world. It has nothing to do with easy-going amiability which often masquerades under the name (humble)" (Charles Gore).
Central to our thoughts at Christmas is the little child Jesus in the midst of the world. Later on "He called a little child unto Him and set him in the midst and said "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of God, heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of heaven."
The little doorway to the bliss of the God-controlled life leads on to the Shrine of the Nativity where believers who have discovered the secret of greatness for living - humility - express it in their adoration and gifts.