Since we are not going to be together next Sunday – which is Christmas Day – I thought we could look at the metaphysical meaning of Christmas and the symbolism embedded within the story. Those who have been part of Center of Light for a long time have heard me offer a metaphysical interpretation before but I would like all of you to think about all the elements of the Christmas story and perhaps expand and enhance my interpretation.
For most people, the birth of the Christ child is an annual event that evokes altruistic feelings even in people that show no compassion for the rest of the year. This is a time that is synonymous with love and peace and good will to all men and even the most callous of people are caught up in the special feelings of the season. It is such a powerful narrative that it has persisted for 2,000 years.
Perhaps the reason that this story is so evocative for all of us is that somewhere, deep in the depths of our subconscious, it resonates with us that although, on the surface, the story of Christmas is a poignant account of the birth of a child, there is definitely more to it. The birth only appears in two of the synoptic gospels, Matthew and Luke, and differs in content, background, and cast of characters in both (see Appendix A), and yet it is taken as an immutable truth by the fundamental Christian churches. But if we look beneath the “facts,” we can find a rich symbolism that explains why the story has such appeal for all.
There are many metaphysical interpretations of this story but we can create our own as a contemplative device. The first thing to note is that “Christ” is not the last name of Jesus: it is a title meaning “anointed” (Jesus THE Christ) – but it is actually referring to a level of consciousness. The virgin birth could be a metaphor to explain that Jesus came into this world as a pure spirit, higher in consciousness than others at that time of spiritual darkness.
Perhaps the baby represents ourselves in all our innocence and vulnerability, stripped of any of the trappings of our everyday lives. The image of a baby being born in the lowliest of surrounding, a stable, reminds us that on a spiritual level, there is no rich or poor, weak or strong: we are all equal. During the annual “rebirth” what is being born is our awareness of the Christ consciousness within. It is an opportunity to recall to your attention the words Jesus himself told us, “Ye are Gods” (Psalm 82:6 and John 10:34) but our understanding of this is very tenuous and difficult for us to believe, so the idea must be nurtured and suckled to bring it to maturity. Mary, the mother of Jesus, represents the feminine, the emotional, feeling side of our nature, while Joseph, the Carpenter, is the masculine, pragmatic, thinking side; the two together providing the balance, the yin and yang.
If we perceive the inn as ourselves, our mind, it brings awareness that the phrase “there is no room at the inn” may indicate that many times we fill our minds, our thoughts, with mundane things leaving no room for spiritual understanding. We are fearful of allowing in even the smallest seed that we are indeed that spark of the divine being reborn, as we have been socialized to acknowledge our separation and deny our godliness. But even in denial of our true selves, we have the stable with the manger – representing our heart – to hold and keep safe our vulnerability, although we must step outside of our mind (the inn) and abandon our cluttered thoughts to get to a calm, safe, open place that acknowledges our connection to Mother Earth (the stable).
The notion of this connection is further represented by the shepherds and the animals (Luke) while the Magi (Matthew) represent the wisdom from the East – the source of light – that we can draw to us if we are open and receptive. Another important character in the story, King Herod (Appendix B), can be seen to represent an additional essential part of ourselves: our ego. Our ego is always threatened by something new happening in our lives. It tries to stop, to kill off anything which threatens to change the place of safety we have chosen – whether it is good for us or not. Remember, Marianne Williams said: Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.” The light in the Christmas story, the star, is a symbol of guidance, of hope, and of the potential of wishes and dreams. Remember, when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true.
The three gifts that the Magi brought were gold, frankincense and myrrh, perhaps metaphors for the physical, emotional, and spiritual. Gold could be seen to represents our material possessions which, when we lose attachment to them, become a force for good and a powerful magnet for everything we truly need in life. We need to be reminded that we are co-creators of our reality. Nothing is denied us unless we choose to allow fear to feed our doubts. Shakespeare said, “Our doubts are traitors And make us lose the good we oft might win By fearing to attempt. (Measure for Measure, Act 1, Scene 4).
Frankincense, or Olibanum as it would have been known in the time of the Magi, is an essential oil produced from the resin of the Boswellia tree. As the resin bleeds from the tree, the hardened clumps are known as tears. These tears are collected and processed to produce a substance used for healing, and in religious ceremonies. Frankincense, therefore, represents the healing power we have within us which is often thwarted by our emotional attachments. Often, tears precede healing as we wrestle with the unconscious, underlying motivations that manifest as illness in our bodies.
Traditionally, Myrrh, an embalming ointment, is metaphysically interpreted to be connected with Jesus’ directive: “Follow me: and let the dead bury the dead” (Matthew 8:22) and Paul’s statement “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31) as a way to acknowledge that although we hold on tightly to things in our spiritual and material lives that are no longer needed, we are given the opportunity to begin our lives anew each and every day, but most especially at Christmas.
Christmas is a time of peace, love, and joy and has become synonymous with light, perhaps a remnant from the fear of the dying of the sun at the time of the Winter Solstice. People cover their churches, businesses, and homes with candles and lights. Light is also associated with knowledge and understanding. In John 9:5 Jesus said: ‘I am the light of the world.’ But in Matthew 5:14-16, he also said:
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men.
So today, I want you to put your light on a stand so that it may be seen by everyone in your life. Christmas is indeed a day of celebration. It is an opportunity to review where we are spiritually, to feel the rebirth of our own spiritual source within, and to resolve to keep our light on a stand to light, not just our whole house, but to be a candle in the window, a beacon of hope for others.
And so, let’s finish today with a prayer.
Closing Prayer:
Divine Creator, Thank you for bringing us together as a spiritual family today and every day. Thank you for giving us a place to be able to express our thoughts, our feelings, and our vulnerabilities without fear of criticism or rejection. Thank you for this safe environment to nurture the rebirth and growth of our spiritual selves.
As we leave this place, let us be guided by the star from the East, choosing to see the light in everyone we encounter and sharing our light with those whose light has dimmed, especially at this time. Help us to know always that we are loved and to keep the fear that creeps in at bay by having faith that we are never alone. Let us be aware of the responsibility we have to encourage the light to grow within ourselves and others, not just at Christmas, but every day of the year.
Amen. And so it is.
My Christmas wish for all of you today is that you are blessed with knowing that you are a gift to all those around you.
May you find joy in everyone, and in everything you do.
May you be wrapped in love always.
May gratitude be your mantra.
And, most of all, today and every day, I wish you Peace.
Merry Christmas everyone.
APPENDIX A
Matthew 1:18-2:12New International Version (NIV)
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[a]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[b] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c] because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[d] (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Luke 2:1-7
2:1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in swaddling cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2 8 – 20
[8] . . . there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. [9] An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. [10] But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11] Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. [12] This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
[13] Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
[14] “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace and good will to all men.”
APPENDIX B
Matthew 2 1-12
1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise mena from the east came to Jerusalem, 2saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it roseb and have come to worship him.” 3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.