The Glory in the Cave: Finding Hope and Mercy in the Nativity

Photo by Burkay Canatar

Advent’s Quiet Passing and the Fear of Being Unready

Advent is coming to a close, Christmas is about to dawn upon us, and there is a chance, dear reader, that your heart may be crying out, “Behold, He is coming – but so soon!? I’m not ready!”

Advent is a beautiful season, a time to swing wide the doors so that at Christmas we may usher in the King of Glory. The Church calls us to prepare during Advent to receive the King of Glory through prayer, reading Scripture, growing in virtue, availing of the Sacraments and many other ways.

The proclamation of Advent in many ways sounds like the call of the Psalm: “Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the King of Glory may come in.” (Psalm 24:7). However, for many people it may be that this season of Advent goes by silently and unnoticed, much like Our Lord’s first coming to so many at the time.

When the Heart Feels Too Full for God

As we count down the final days leading to Christmas, perhaps, dear reader, we look back as the days of Advent fade away, where we have been called to prepare the way for the Lord – and we feel grieved. Advent is coming to a close; how did I avail of it? Do our hearts now look like fitting homes to welcome in the expectant Holy Family, or do we feel unprepared and see ourselves full of anxieties or cares, wounds and griefs, sins and sorrows, which take up so much space in our soul that we find ourselves pressed against its locked door, about to call through it to the Holy Family knocking, “There is no room here! Go find somewhere else!”

Rejoice, Even Now

If you feel this in some way, my dear reader, before proceeding any further, I ask you not to fall into despair or discouragement, but to let the words of St Paul resound in your heart: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice!” (Phil 4:4)

“But why should I rejoice? Look at this mess of my heart! Look at the messes in my life! How could the Lord, the King of Glory, come in here?”

A Saviour for Sinners, Not the Righteous

My friends, we have heard the Good News, but we must allow it to take root and flourish in our hearts so as to transform our lives. And the Good News is this – that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him may not perish, but have eternal life.

Jesus, in His own public ministry, confirmed many times that He did not come for the righteous, but for sinners (Luke 5:32). There was no negotiation with us about this, and no asking whether we thought His coming to save and redeem us was a good idea or whether we thought ourselves worthy to be recipients of God’s love. No – it was not by our love for God, but God’s love for us that He sent His only Son to be the expiation for our sins! (1 John 4:10).

God Himself was coming into the world to save the world! And we believe, and it is true, that it is by Jesus Christ, the Word who became flesh, that we have all received grace upon grace, which is the free, undeserved favour of God, so that we are not only saved from our sins, but that we, by His grace, live through Him (John 1:14–16; CCC 1996; 1 John 4:9).

Why God Chose the Cave

“But what about my sin? What about my shame? How can I rejoice when I have made such a mess? Surely this is no place for God?”

In the light of the Gospel truth, I wish to offer you this little reflection on the scene of the Nativity to address these concerns. I invite you to reflect on this question: why did God choose to be born in a cave?

Yes, there was no room at the inn, but remember God is Sovereign, and in His infinite wisdom He had already chosen where the Son of Man was to lay His head for the first time on earth, which was in a manger. Remember when Jesus told Pontius Pilate that he had no power over Him except that which was given from above (John 19:11). If this was true of His Passion and Death, why would it not be true in the circumstances of His first coming in the city of David, in Bethlehem?

Why did He choose a cave – a cold, dank and miserable cave? Why did He choose to be surrounded by filth, in a place of great poverty? Why did the Light of the World come forth first into such a dark and lonely place?

The Caves of Our Own Hearts

Because, my friends, like that cold, poor and harsh cave, Jesus desires first to be welcomed and adored in a place like that which is all too familiar to us – the caves of our own hearts. It is right there, in the midst of all our wounds and the places we try to cover or run away from in shame, that the Word Incarnate wishes to come and make His glory known.

Because He loves you. It was for you that He came, and in you He wishes to make His dwelling. He wishes to transform your life, free you from sin and shame, and invite you into a relationship with Him.

So be not discouraged when we see our state, but again heed the exhortation of St Paul: “Rejoice!” Because at Christmas we celebrate Emmanuel – God with us – truly with us here in the sanctuary of our own misery, provided we allow Him to enter in.

So, with confidence, we can follow the call of the Psalm and declare: “Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the King of Glory may come in.” (Psalm 24:9)

The Gift Christ Awaits This Christmas

In these last few days of Advent, no matter how it has looked up to this point, I encourage you then, dear reader, to give to Jesus Christ this Christmas the gift He has been waiting for since before the beginning of time – the gift of your whole self to Him.

Your best and your worst.
Your highs and your lows.
Your strength and your weakness.
And everything in between.

Open wide the doors of your heart to Him in prayer, saying, “Come, Lord Jesus, come!” Let He who is Love and Mercy itself run to meet you, to embrace you and clothe you as His beloved child by confessing your sin to Him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Luke 15:20–24; 1 John 1:9).

Glory, Peace and the Dawn of Christmas

Receive Him into all the mess and hurts of your soul, to lay there in the hay of your heart, and be assured that by Him – by His coming and His grace – all will be well.

Then this Christmas, as the star rises over the place where Jesus is welcome to be laid, we can join with the angels in praise and say: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men of good will.” (Luke 2:14)

By this gift of Jesus Himself, I wish you peace this Christmas.
Rejoice – for Christ our Saviour has come among us.