Christmas Day
Icon of Reparation
The Divine Child can be seen as an icon of many things: of peace (Prince of Peace), of renewal (Morning Star), of providence (Infant of Prague), and of humility (Emmanuel), to name just a few. This Christmas season, I propose that the Baby Jesus also be for us an icon of reparation.
This thought first occurred to me, I think, while reading the writings of St. John Henry Newman. He observed that when misfortune befalls an adult, it does not grieve us as deeply as when it happens to a child. The younger the child, the more piercing the sorrow. This, he suggested, is because we implicitly recognize that even the most innocent adult carries some moral imperfection. At some point in his life, he has done wrong. A child, by contrast, is free of such guilt and their suffering strikes us as all the more unjust.
This, however, does not apply to Jesus. His innocence is not diminished by age. He remains, as it were, innocent as a newborn babe. The perfect innocence of the Little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay is the same Innocence scourged, crowned with thorns, spat upon, and nailed to the Cross—for my sins.
Indeed, Jesus' innocence surpasses even that of a newborn babe. To ponder this fully is only to begin to feel apt sorrow for the suffering our sins afflict Him.
But there is another truth implied here. When we show affection to an adult, no matter how intimate the relationship, our expressions of tenderness rarely approach the gentleness we instinctively offer a baby. The touch, the tone, the gestures we reserve for an infant would seem almost inappropriate if directed toward an adult.
This, I think, also does not apply to Jesus. His condescension is no less profound, whether to accept the adoration of the Magi, the anointing of nard, or the simple embrace of a human mother. It would seem to be the desire of an infinite condescension that the same tender affection we would offer the Christ Child be offered also to the grown Jesus, to our suffering and crucified Savior.
This Christmas, let’s promise the Baby Jesus that we will strive to obey His commandments and not to hurt Him anymore. Let’s be bold in lavishing our most tender affection upon Him, not only as the Child in the manger but also as our Savior on the Cross. And amid our joyful celebration, let’s make acts of reparation to the Innocent One who is so unjustly wounded by ugly blasphemy and sin.
James T. Majewski is an actor and theater director based in New York City. He is a frequent artistic collaborator with Arthouse 2B and the President of the Board of The Catholic Artist Connection.