Bishop Barber Advent 2025 Message

Christ is in the center. He is wrapped in swaddling clothes, which also signify his burial cloths. St. Gregory of Nazianzus wrote that Jesus will leave aside these cloths when he leaves the cave and rises from the dead. He is shown resting in a manger, but it looks more like a marble tomb. This ties Jesus’ birth with His death, the means of our salvation. By long tradition, Jesus was born in a cave — shown in the icon — which one can still visit underneath the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Jesus was born in a cave – and buried in a cave. And from that cave He rose from the dead: completing the Paschal Mystery.
  
As recorded in Scripture, angels adore Him at His birth, seen in the upper left. To the right, an angel appears to shepherds announcing His birth. One shepherd is playing his flute, showing his great joy at the birth of Christ. In the lower right, two midwives, invited by St. Joseph to help Our Lady with the childbirth, wash the baby Jesus. This signifies that Jesus’ birth was as normal and messy as that of any other child. In Eastern iconography, this basin is in the shape of a baptismal font, a foretaste of the sacrament which gives us divine life. 
 
 On the lower left, we see St. Joseph, who looks worried and perplexed, speaking with the Devil, who’s disguised as a shepherd. Eastern Christians interpret this as Satan tempting Joseph to doubt how a virgin can give birth and remain a virgin. This symbolizes those who throughout history have struggled to understand the mystery of the Incarnation of Christ. Yet Joseph overcomes his doubts and becomes the righteous man who serves as the foster father and guardian of the Redeemer. 
  
 
In the middle of the left side we see the three Magi, bringing their gifts of gold for Christ the King, whose kingdom will have no end; frankincense for Christ the Son of God; and myrrh to anoint His body after His death on the cross, which grants us life through His Resurrection. 

This brings us to the image of Our Blessed Lady. She is shown looking not at Jesus, but at her husband Joseph, offering her support in his perplexity. In Eastern icons of the Nativity, she is usually shown reclining on a cushion, resting after giving birth to Jesus. On her veil are three stars, signifying that Mary was a virgin before, during and after the birth of her Son. 
  
Finally, an ox and a donkey are in the cave, breathing on the Christ child to keep Him warm. Although the Gospels do not mention these two animals, they have been shown in nearly all images of the Nativity since the fourth century. Isaiah prophesied in speaking of the Christ that “the ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger” (Isaiah 1:3). St. John Chrysostom said the ox symbolizes the Jewish people since it is a clean, kosher animal they could eat. The donkey symbolizes the Gentiles. Before Jesus died on the cross, neither group recognized Him. Yet after His Resurrection, members of both groups came to follow Him. 

What I like about this icon is that it not only portrays the story of Christ’s birth, but the purpose of His Incarnation. As St. Ambrose wrote, “The Son of God was born as a child so that we may become perfect humans. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes so that we may become free from the snares of death. He was in a manger so that we may be on the altar. He was on earth that we may be in heaven. He had no place in the inn, so that we may have many mansions in the heavens.”

I wish you all a most blessed and peaceful feast of the Nativity of the Lord. May the newborn King dwell in your hearts and homes and parishes now and in the New Year. Merry Christmas!

BISHOP MICHAEL C. BARBER, SJ