In his passage through life, in all its phases of growth and development, Jesus sanctified all pure relationships and experiences. He sanctified childhood. It is no wonder that all over Christendom, Christmas is a day sacred to childhood. It is the children’s day. It tells of a child that was born. Very beautiful are the legends that a tender fancy has invented of the Christ-child and his visits every year to every home where there is a child to bless. Childhood has been sanctified, its joys sweetened, and its sacredness enhanced, by the human infancy of Jesus.
So he sanctified motherhood, since of a human mother was born the incarnate God; since on a human mother’s bosom he lay, clasping his tiny arms about her neck. So he sanctified home. Whatever is truly sacred, pure, tender, and holy in our homes comes from his life in this world. What a home that Nazareth home must have been! Think of that lovely, sinless, joyous life growing up there, through tender infancy, bright beautiful youth, noble, spotless manhood. One patient, gentle spirit in any home is enough to fill all the household life with unspeakable sweetness and peace. But think of Jesus, his wondrous beauty, his benignity, his self-forgetfulness, his prayerful piety, his divine purity, his joyous affectionateness, his unruffled calm. The old legends tell us that day and night, wherever he moved, or rested, or slept, there was a halo of light of love, the glow of heaven’s tender peace. It filled all that home. And ever since Christianity has been a home religion. It purifies home joys, softens home sorrows, and sanctifies home relationships.
So Jesus blessed poverty, for he lived as a poor man. He blessed toil; for his own hands grew hard as he wrought. He blessed social life, for he grew in favour with his fellow-men; no stern ascetic, but mingling in the circles of his friends, and pouring the fragrance of his gracious character on all about him.
Page 1