Theodidacti

JRR Tolkien said that “the Birth of Christ is the eucatastrophe of Man’s history.”

Eucatastrophe is a word Tolkien invented. He adds the Greek “eu,” meaning “good,” to “catastrophe,” and so, we end up with a word meaning “good catastrophy.” This is an excellent thought on Christmas day.

The English “catastrophe”  comes from the Greek katastrephein, which itself comes from two other Greek words, kata, “down,” and strephein, “to turn.” (Apostrophe is also built from this word. It means “to turn away.” Strap is another word made from strephein, as a strap is going one way and is then turn back the other direction.) A eucatastrophe then, is when things are turning down or for the worst and it is a good thing.

The world is going to hell in a handcart. Everyone has jumped into the wheelbarrow and they are headed down the steep slope to hell. The trip is so jarring that most are unconscious of their impending doom. In the midst of that ignorance, the Great Father in his wisdom and love, sends his Son into this same doomed world. He sent his Good Child to die. And this is a blessed thing: a baby was born to die. Eucatastrophe!

There would be no salvation were it not for this good catastrophe. The Christ Child was born to die so that we might die to self and be born again. On this Christmas day, may you and I deny ourselves and take up our crosses and follow Jesus. “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for [Jesus'] sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25) May we die to self and Christ be born in us anew today. Eucatastrophe.