THE FIRST CAVEMAN WAS BORN

This IS a historical fact; the first ‘recorded’ birth in a cave was the birth which that young virgin of Nazareth gave of her son, and whose legitimate father was asked, ordered, by a decree of God Himself, to give Him the name of JESUS. (through a heavenly messenger, in a dream, re Matthew).

Yes, this was done by a royal command: “And you shall call His name, JESUS.” So, Joseph could not call the baby, after a grandfather, from the maternal or paternal side. This was a heavenly edict.

But going back to the birth in a cave, yes, He was exiled from the earth and there was no choice, but to take shelter, and subsequently, to be born under the earth. As we have seen in previous meditations, He should have been born in a palace, in a great mansion. After all, He IS the King of kings, He is a royal Prince. But who lives in great mansions, in villas and palaces?

HE, was born in a cave, but HE shook the earth to its very foundations. Even His death shook the earth all round, Thousands of world leaders have been born and dieD, but, they are simply mentioned as a news item … and nothing else. In fact there’s the English expression: The King is dead, God save the King But, Christ’s Death and Birth have created a sensation and both occasions are still commemorated throughout the world.

Moreover, I like the thought put forward by Fulton Sheen; ‘because he was born in a cave, all those who wish to see Him, must bend, must stoop.’ But some refuse to stoop; and these are the proud who always refuse to stoop. Therefore they miss Divinity. But those who are, willing to bend their ego to go in the cave, find that they are not in a cave at all, but they are in a universe. There, they find a babe on His mother’s lap, the babe who made the universe.

There they see God who emptied Himself to become a helpless baby, depending on His mother for His needs; to feed Him, to wash Him, to protect Him, to cuddle Him, to help Him grow with her love, to teach Him how to take His first step, to teach Him the daily prayers, to praise God.

Have you ever wondered what a wonderful mission Mary was entrusted to perform because of her humility, and because she surrendered her very self, her own free will, to be united to His Will. She certainly deserves to be called the ‘Queen of Heaven’. Congrats, Mother Mary on the Birth of your son, our elder Brother.

What a wonder is Mary! The Lord entered her, and became a Servant; the Word entered her, and became silent within her; Thunder entered her, and His voice was still; the Shepherd of all entered her, and He became a Lamb in her, and came forth bleating. –St. Ephrem of Syria