December 27, 2013

Dear Sir,

I am grateful to ‘Anonymous’ for his letter ‘Fact or Fiction’ because it allows me to write again about one of the greatest moments in history — when the creator of the universe decided to step into time and space in order to bring about the possibility of salvation for his warring and wayward world.

Everyone should know that the 25th December is an artificial date and not the actual date of Jesus’ birth. But, it isn’t the date that we are celebrating but the event. The 25th of December was chosen as the ‘official birthday’ in the 4th Century for theological reasons — namely that it comes the day after the winter solstice — at a point when the days are getting longer — and in some ways this is representative of the light of Christ being spread abroad.

The fact that this day was once a pagan festival is also illustrative of the Christian belief that Christ has come to redeem all of the universe — to push back the bounds of Satan’s influence.

Each time another pagan festival is overshadowed by a Christian festival is another sign of spread of the gospel — just as it was when the demon-possessed of the gospels were set free.

Whilst it is acknowledged that much of the first meaning of Christmas has been subject to a counter attack by the commercial and spiritual world, this does not alter the fact that is it right for us who believe in Christ to celebrate the moment of his first coming — even as we now prepare for his second coming.

To my mind the giving of gifts as part of that celebration is representative in a very paltry way — of the fact that God so loved the world that he gave his son. Of course our gifts are mundane and trite compared to his — but it is the spirit of the thing that we seek to give good things to others.

As for the wise men — three kings — they were indeed Magi — Persian astrologers — who picked up on signs in the skies that a change was afoot. Astronomers today acknowledge that there were some pretty extraordinary astronomical events at about the time Jesus was thought to be born.

But again the point of the story is this — Matthew, the author, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit is writing to a Jewish audience to convince them that Jesus was indeed the Messiah — and he does so with numerous prophetic references to the Old Testament pointing to the coming of the Lord’s anointed which would be a blessing not only to God’s chosen people but to all people.

His gospel begins with representatives of the world ‘out there’ coming to worship him and it ends with the challenge for his disciples to go out into all the world. The coming of the Magi is illustrative of the purpose of Jesus’ incarnation — an invitation to all people everywhere to find hope, joy and something to worship.

It is likely that their visit did occur some years later — but this epiphany is taken with the other events of Jesus’ birth as they all presage the beginning of the story of the word made flesh, come to die for our salvation and to rise again for our glory.

Whenever it is celebrated and however — it is worth shouting about. “Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth!’

The Rt. Revd. Nicholas B.B. Dill

Bishop of Bermuda