The Nativity Icon

I recently changed my Facebook profile pic to an icon of the Nativity of Christ, in honor of the Feast and the Season. My mother, with whom I share a certain sense of humor, commented that it really didn't look like me. I chuckled, and moved on, but was later drawn to think about that statement, and to make the following reflection. I share it in hopes that it edifies, and pray that it isn't found to be offensive to my Eastern Catholic and Orthodox brothers and sisters.




Doesn't it, though? Doesn't it look like all Christians?

Aren't we all the cave, that space that is dark and empty except that it be filled by our saving God-with-us? Are we not all, like the angels in Luke's gospel, messengers of the glorious coming of God in the flesh? Are we not like the ox and ass, creatures of God who are as dumb animals in the presence of so great a mystery, yet still drawn to the nourishment offered by our God? Are we not all wise persons, coming to make homage to the King of Kings? Are we not all shepherds, who receive the good news with astonishment, in the midst of leading our particular flocks? Are we not all like Joseph, tempted to doubt the truth of the gospel, yet overcoming doubt with trust in God's Word? Don't we all, at times, serve as the tempting devil, when we, in our times of darkness, give evidence that contradicts the good news of Christ's arrival and presence among us? Aren't we all like Mary, lovingly accepting Christ into our very beings, and striving to nurture in ourselves and contemplate a mystery we cannot comprehend? Are not we, who have become the Body of Christ, bound together and offered up as sacrifice to God the Father, for the sake of all the world?

In fact, this might be a mystical portrait of the church, all Christians, or any one of us. When God became God-with-us, we became man-with-God; so perhaps it is not unfitting to reflect upon this icon in this fashion.