A Reflection for the Third Day in the Octave of Christmas
Find today’s readings here.
“What we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life.” (1 John 1:1)
St. Mary Magdalene came to the tomb “on the first day” before it was light. What this means is that she came at the first possible moment once the Sabbath restrictions had been lifted. She loved her Lord so much, even in death, that she could not wait another moment to be close to him.
Reading this passage at Christmas might seem strange. This is the Easter story. Right now, we are remembering how Jesus was born. What we gain, though, from this glimpse of Easter in the midst of Yuletide, is a reminder of how Jesus’ birthset the stage for a rebirththat would enable all of us to be reborn. He emerged from the womb so that he could later emerge from the tomb. And on both momentous occasions, there was a woman. A woman who loved Jesus deeply was the first in each case to know that something was afoot, and the first to welcome him to new life.
My youngest son has a birthday tomorrow. He was conceived in the Octave of Easter, and born in the Octave of Christmas. I always thought that was quite beautiful, and in a very dramatic way, it drew my attention to something I had not noticed before: The space of time between these two great feasts is roughly the amount of time that it takes to bring a new human being into the world. It feels like another subtle reminder of the message from 1 John: the Word was made flesh so that we might have life. All the great Christian feasts revolve around the giving of life.
We must try to imitate St. Mary Magdalene, waking up before dawn if necessary, and running as hard as we can to be close to the Lord who has saved us.
As a mother with many children, I am constantly seeing, hearing and touching abundant life. Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the noise, energy and even stench of it. Life is messy and often burdensome. Having a baby is a life-giving act, and yet for the woman it also involves a kind of death, as the old self is subsumed in a radical way by the immense needs of a helpless new human. So it must also have been for Mary. We see poignant glimpses of that transformational love in the feminine outline that sits at the manger and by the foot of the Cross, and who runs on Easter morning to the empty tomb.
Love creates life, in the literal acts of creation and procreation, but also uncountable other ways as love affirms that goodness of everything God has made.
At Christmas we recall the night of Our Lord’s birth, when he lay in the arms of a woman, the first to believe, and the first to love him. We also can have and give life and love, but we must try to imitate St. Mary Magdalene, waking up before dawn if necessary, and running as hard as we can to be close to the Lord who has saved us.
Get to know Rachel Lu, Contributing Writer
Favorite Advent or Christmas themed art?
I love the carol Twas in the Moon of Wintertime, not only for the haunting tune, but also for the way it brings Christmas to the New World. It was originally written in the Huron language in the seventeenth century, by a French Jesuit missionary. So many of the traditional carols are English, French, or German, and I love them all, but this one feels like ours in a special way.
Favorite Christmas tradition?
I guess I just like singing, because the first thing I think of is the day I spend baking cookies to bring to neighbors, while singing along to a recording of The Messiah. I sang it enough times in choirs when I was young that I pretty much know it by heart. And my kids think this is extremely dorky, so that’s fun too.
Which project are you most proud to have worked on this year at America?
My essay on maternal honor was very personal; I poured myself into that. It was very special to see that piece in print this last spring, at such a momentous time for the pro-life movement, and it was very enjoyable to discuss it on the Jesuitical podcast.
Favorite Christmas recipe?
It’s as simple as can be to make, but Nutella fudge is a Christmas favorite that my family loves. You just mix the Nutella with melted chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla. Pour it and let it cool. I started making this when the kids were babies, wanting something special and decadent but feeling too overwhelmed with Christmas preparations to do anything complicated. It’s irresistible, and now that taste says “Christmas” to them and to me evokes memories of smiling babies with their faces smeared with chocolate.
