Unto us a Child is Born

The awesome mystery of Christmas is contained in the dual nature of the infant Jesus: the knowledge of His almighty power, juxtaposed with the spectacle of His absolute vulnerability in the crib. At this season, we celebrate the birth of the Saviour. But we also ponder the helplessness of the newborn, and the gravity of responsibility that is placed on the shoulders of every parent. Whisked away by Mary and Joseph, Jesus escaped the horrific wrath of Herod: but many other children fell victim to the King’s insane jealousy.

In spirit, theology and secular tradition, this is the season of childhood and family. Dickens captured this in A Christmas Carol when Scrooge is shown the Cratchits’ meagre feast by the Ghost of Christmas Present. ‘God Bless us every one!’ cries Tiny Tim. ‘He sat very close to his father’s side, upon his little stool. Bob held his withered little hand in his, as if he loved the child and wished to keep him by his side, and dreaded that he might be taken from him.’

Such scenes from another age trigger gratitude that the lot of the child is no longer so precarious. Yet we should beware lest we cross the threshold that separates gratitude from smugness. In February, the publication of ‘An Overview of Child Well-being in rich countries’ by Unicef showed — shockingly — that, judged by a variety of indicators connected with health, happiness and welfare, Britain is the worst place in the developed world for children to live. Iain Duncan Smith’s heroic work on our ‘Broken Society’ has filled in the gaps, laying bare an appalling social landscape of deprivation, addiction, crime, failed relationships and (worst of all) hopelessness.