Luke 2:19

Luke 2:19, Private Collection
Oil on canvas, 36 x 24
Copyright Peter Bougie 2017

Luke Chapter 2

And it came to pass, that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled. 2This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria. 3And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David, 5To be enrolled with Mary, his espoused wife, who was with child. 6And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and Angels

8And there were in the same country shepherds watching, and keeping the night watches over their flocks. 9And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone around about them; and they feared with a great fear. 10And the angel said to them: “Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people; 11For, this day is born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. 12And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying:

14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.”

15And it came to pass, after the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another: “Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath shewed to us.” 16And they came with haste; and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. 17And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child. 18And all that heard, wondered; and at those things that were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God, for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

From “The Passion of the Infant Christ”, by Caryll Houselander:

“While Christ remained hidden in Mary, his rest was a tremendous activity; he was making her into himself, making himself from her. From her eyes he was making the eyes that would weep over Jerusalem, that would shine upon the wildflowers, that would close in death and open in the morning of Resurrection. From her hands he was making the hands that would heal and raise the dead and be nailed to the cross. From her heart he was making the heart whose love would redeem the world.”

“But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)

The painting shown above takes its title from that scripture verse in Luke’s infancy narrative. Christ is shown as an infant, dependent on His mother Mary for everything required to sustain life. In this fact is revealed the profound love of God for his creation, humankind, and His profound humility, in that He came to live among us as one of us: He “emptied himself [italics added], taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men”. (Phillipians 2:7) God became a zygote; God emptied Himself into the form of an infant in the arms of its mother.

Mary and Jesus are shown resting in a decrepit setting, indicative of the spiritual condition of human beings due to sin. The basic condition for sin is our preference of our own will over God’s. Everything we do is subject to temporal laws of decline and dissolution. God came to live among us in these conditions. He had to grow up from helpless infancy like anybody else, although He is divine. “With men it is impossible, but not with God: for all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27, also Matthew 19:26)

Continued in the next post.
All scripture quotations from Douay Rheims