us to do. Without looking at our merits or demerits, God signals us that he sends his divine Sun to rise and dissipate the darkness of our ignorance and our sins, like the Sun of nature little by little dissipates the darkness of night. It is in this state of being that Jesus Christ rises upon us to communicate his life and light through grace, which can only come through the mercy of a Father full of goodness.
“To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:79)
The divine Sun rises in the interior to give light to those who sit with him and repose in a total abandon in the state of death and in the deepest darkness. The soul is not in peace in this sepulcher and wants to be in the will of God. So the divine Sun, Jesus Christ, rises in this soul as light and guides our feet in the way of peace, exempt from all disorder and fear, walking entirely in freedom.
The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel. (Luke 1:80)
This verse contains all that he did from the time of his spiritual childhood until he entered the apostolic state. His interior grew and became strong in spirit as he believed. In the spirit he was raised and in his nature he was diminished. It was necessary that this child remain in the wilderness and in solitude, without which his interior state would not have grown and become strong. The soul must remain hidden until the time that it pleases God to draw him out of there to appear publicly to Israel. God calls this chosen soul destined to be interior out of his solitude to help his neighbor.
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. (Luke 2:1–6)
It is not without mystery that God wills that this report contain all the circumstances that appear superfluous and that this history not be embellished. However, this simple narration contains two remarkable things. First, Jesus Christ at his birth and even before his birth practiced for himself and his parents what he taught, to render to Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are God. There is no state where we are not subject to the ruling authorities. There are some people who appear pious but yet believe that they have the right to shake off the yoke and take others away from their obedience. They believe they have the right to judge their own conduct and see what is just and right. Jesus Christ does not do this but he lives under the rule of the authorities. We must do the same unless it is directly opposed to divine law. The circumstances here are remarkable that the Savior Jesus Christ is born in Bethlehem to accomplish the prophecies; all this is done naturally and without anything extraordinary. What is more natural than that Mary comes to this place as it is ordained? This is the way God leads abandoned souls; he leads them in a manner all natural and without anything extraordinary, but it appears appropriate and admirable.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)
Mary gives birth in a stable and puts the holy infant Jesus in a manger because there was no place for him in the inn. This is a coup of the divine hand, predicted throughout eternity, and announced by the prophets, but it appears all natural. O God! When you arrive, you arrive by eternal decree! Who then could not want all that you do and see that all things are in you? All things are held in you who are in a manger. The one who frees everyone is swaddled and tied with bands of cloth. O wonderful coup of the righteousness of the Most-High! The bands of cloth that Jesus Christ was enveloped at birth, marks how the soul in the spiritual birth must remain tied in his power and senses in a sweet captivity, to receive sweetness within, and to remain wrapped and captive as the infant Jesus Christ was in the manger. This is necessary that he be swaddled and rested in this strength. There is no state of being that Jesus Christ did not bear.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. (Luke 2:8)
Shepherds must be particularly vigilant during the darkness and the night where death might happen. In the same way, the soul watches over things. She must be a vigilant pastor and take care because she is in a pitiable state where she cannot fully watch over herself or even look at God clearly. This is why scripture reads, that the shepherds kept watch over their flock by night. They guard vigilantly, like the soul must watch so that she does not make mistakes and become lost.
Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.” (Luke 2:9–10)
When pastors are vigilant over their sheep with strength, this vigilance calls forth God who communicates with them with the illumination of his light, making them know truth within their souls. God shows them light on an impenetrable route, which only the divine light of the glory of God leads them to discover. All the light that show these states cause doubt and fear to spiritual directors who have not experienced this for themselves, but they are reassured by divine inspiration who speaks in the depths of the heart, Do not be afraid, for this is news of great joy. The state of this soul that appears new, far from afflicting us, fills us with joy.
“To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)
This brings great joy to pastors. In a state as dark as night, in a state they do not know, in the city of David, in the most profound center of the soul, is born a Savior, to save the soul by his own loss. The more the soul is lost, the more the soul finds its own salvation in the Savior, who is the Christ. Jesus Christ brings life to this soul to the measure that the soul is destroyed.
Before talking of these scriptures, it is good to reflect on the circumstances of the life of Jesus Christ.
First, to whom is announced the birth of Jesus Christ? To the doctors of the law, to the Pharisees, to princes, to kings? No, to poor and simple shepherds, to the simple without degrees, because these persons are the most appropriate to receive Jesus Christ, because they are not opposed to his simple spirit by their own sufficiency. They are already in the simplicity of his state and the character of his own spirit. If the angels had announced an infant king born in a manger to the doctors, they would have understood this as an illusion, as they do not have enlightenment and are far away from simplicity. They do not suffer. They want only grand things and extraordinary understandings. If the Pharisees had said this to Herod, they would have been persecuted. Instead, these simple shepherds, coarse and ignorant, receive the news of the birth of Jesus Christ. Oh, these simple souls by receiving the truth of Jesus Christ born in the depths of their souls are raised above the doctors! The doctors should announce to others the place where he lives, yet they ignore him and are ignorant of the experience of him!
“This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12)
What signs are announced here of the grandeur and majesty of God? What! A Savior who cannot move and is lying, a King, a pastor, lying in a manger, in the place where beasts eat! A child God with all the weakness of infancy! O loving God! We see there the signs of your grandeur and your royalty! You come to reign, yet you are captive. You come to put us in freedom and you are wrapped in bands of cloth. You come to lead us and you are wrapped in bands of cloth without power and vigor. You come to provide for us and you are without power. O mystery! O secret of the interior! It is in weakness that we find your power. It is in captivity that we find your freedom. It is in the exterior of an infant that
