There are lots of good books on the meaning of Christmas, and it’s not often I come across something new. But here at the heart of Michael Patrick Barber’s new book, The True Meaning of Christmas, is a gem we all should keep in mind as we approach our celebration of the birth of our Lord:
Just as we shouldn’t take “Christ” out of “Christmas,” we should be wary of removing the “Mass.”
After taking a deep look at what many others have noted—that Jesus was born in Bethlehem (“house of bread”) in a “manger,” or feeding trough, and noting that Jesus is bread for the world—Barber goes a simple and breathtaking step further:
The central meaning of the Christmas story is that heaven has touched down to earth in Christ. This message is not simply about a past event. Christ continues to come to us when we receive him in the Church’s liturgy. Christmas is incomplete without entering into the mystery that continues to be made present in the eucharistic worship of the Church. There the peace announced by the angels can be found” (page 98).
There are many other reasons to read this book, starting with the lovely way each chapter takes its focus from a well-loved Christmas carol and moves on to unpack the Scripture. Barber’s scholarship is first-rate, his style is accessible, and his content never disappoints.
Michael Barber’s book, The True Meaning of Christmas, lives up to its name. I highly recommend it.
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