(The Wall Street Journal first published this editorial in its Christmas issue in 1948. It has been republished every year since then. The message is as relevant today as it was when written six decades ago. Hence, our sharing it with Postscript readers on this Holy Birthday of the Lord of Truth.)

WHEN Saul of Tarsus set out on his journey to Damascus, the whole of the known world lay in bondage. There was one state, and it was Rome. There was one master for it all, and he was Tiberius Caesar.

Everywhere there was civil order, for the arm of the Roman law was long. Everywhere there was stability, in government and in society, for the centurions saw that it was so.

But everywhere there was something else, too.

There was oppression — for those who were not the friends of Tiberius Caesar. There was the tax gatherer to take the grain from the fields and the flax from the spindle to feed the legions or to fill the hungry treasury from which divine Caesar gave largesse to the people. There was the impressor to find recruits for the circuses. There were executioners – to quiet those whom the Emperor proscribed.

What was man for but to serve Caesar?

There was the persecution of men who dared think differently, who heard strange voices or read strange manuscripts. There was enslavement of men whose tribes came not from Rome, disdain for those who did not have the familiar visage.

And most of all, there was everywhere a contempt for human life. What, to the strong, was one man more or less in a crowded world?

Then, all of a sudden, there was a light in the world, and a man from Galilee saying: “Render unto Caesar the things that are Ceasar’s and unto God the things that are God’s.”

And the voice from Galilee, which would defy Caesar, offered a new Kingdom in which each man could walk upright and bow to none but his God. “Inasmuch as you did it unto one of these, the least of my brothers, you did it unto Me.”

And he sent this gospel of the Kingdom of man into the uttermost ends of the earth.

SO, the light came into the world and the men who lived in darkness were afraid. And they tried to lower a curtain so that man would still believe salvation lay with leaders.

But it came to pass for a while in diverse places that the truth did set man free, although the men of darkness were offended and they tried to put out the light.

The voice said, “Make haste. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come and you know not where walk.”

Along the road to Damascus the light shone brightly. But afterwards Paul of Tarsus, too, was so afraid. He feared that other Caesars, other prophets, might one day persuade men that man was nothing save a servant unto them, that men might yield up their birthright from God for pottage and walk no more in freedom.

Then might it come to pass that darkness would settle again over the lands and there would be a burning of books and men would think only of what they should eat and what they should wear, and would give heed only to new Caesars and to false prophets.

Then might it come to pass that men would not look upwards to see even a winter’s star in the East. And once more, there would be no light at all in the darkness.

And so Paul, the apostle of the Son of Man, spoke to his brethren, the Galatians the words he would have us remember afterwards in each of the years of his Lord:

“Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free. And be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

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GREAT RELIEF: Bless Cory Aquino for her honesty and humility to say sorry to Joseph “Erap” Estrada for her joining the EDSA II mass protest that removed him from the presidency in 2001.

Cory told Erap at a book launching that they attended last Monday at the Podium in Ortigas: “Lahat naman tayo nagkakamali. Patawarin mo na lang ako.” (We all make mistakes. Please forgive me.)

The surprised Erap — whose remarks spiced with wit and humor left a good impression — said he felt vindicated and happy with Cory’s apology.

I can imagine the great relief of Cory after unburdening to Erap what she had realized to have been an error in judgment.

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PRIDE & PRICE: Let us keep praying for arrogant and obstinate officials who sink deeper into error because of greed and conceit.

Among the obstacles to convivial human relations and productive public policy in this country are high pride and high price.

Inept and corrupt bureaucrats stick to wrong policies or insist on pursuing scandalous projects because of their inability to swallow their pride and admit a mistake. Also, they seem to have no fear of, or respect for, the law.

Most officials enmeshed in big-time graft find it difficult wiggling out after accepting an advance commission and a promise of more millions to come. Leeches let go when full, but those in government keep sucking.