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It's
Christmas Every Day! |
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And
the Word became Flesh and dwelt amongst us. John 1:14
A Yale University
professor tells the story of his four-year-old
son . . .
"The boy was in nursery school, and one day
in early December he brought home a notice from
the school which announced a Christmas Pageant.
Parents were requested to support and attend
the pageant. "Take
advantage of this great cultural opportunity," said
the notice. However, the professor and his wife
had long felt that Christmas Pageants were "cultural
opportunities" they would prefer not to
take advantage of. Then a second notice arrived
which informed them that their son was to play
the part of a shepherd in the pageant, and they
felt obliged to attend.
As the pageant proceeded, it met all the expectations
the professor and his wife had of such "cultural
opportunities" -- it was awful!
The house lights dimmed and three Virgin Marys
emerged from the wings, stood over a box of
straw (which was illuminated by a purple light)
and waved to their relatives in the audience.
The professor was astounded that there were
three Marys, and wondered if some new religious
doctrine was being promulgated. But his wife
whispered to him that the school had acquired
three Mary costumes over the years, so some
crazy "logic" indicated
that all three costumes should be used.
A moment later, two Josephs took their place
next to the three Marys, and stood scratching
themselves.
The next entrance was made by angels. Twenty
little girls floated on stage wearing flowing
gowns and immense wings.
Then came the shepherds, dressed in burlap
robes. And at this point low comedy became fiasco!
It seems that during the rehearsals, the director
had wisely placed chalk marks on the stage for
positioning the angels and the shepherds so
as to achieve some degree of symmetry. Each
of them was to stand on the assigned chalk mark.
This had worked beautifully in rehearsal, with
the kids wearing their everyday clothes. But
now, with the huge angel wings, there wasn't
enough room. Each angel took up not only her
own mark but a shepherd's mark as well. Then,
the shepherds began claiming their territory,
resulting in much pushing and shoving, and tugging
of angel wings. Finally one little shepherd
-- instantly recognized by the professor and
his wife as their own son -- turned to the audience
and shouted at the top of his voice, "Those
pushy angels are fouling up the whole show!"
Some people thought that the pageant was ruined,
the professor said. Yet there were others, including
himself and his wife, who considered it the
most Christmasy of all the Christmas Pageants
they had ever seen. And the professor and his
wife figured out why this was so: it was the
intimacy of the event. Three Marys waving to
their relatives. Two Josephs standing in front
of the audience scratching themselves. Kids
nudging and shoving and tugging at one another.
And that little, uninhibited four-year-old who
spoke his mind."
Intimacy is Christmasy. And
the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us. (John
1:14). That is the Apostle John's astounding
announcement that the Infinite God has become
intimate in our lives. Emmanuel: God is with
us. And, in and through us.
we experience a Presence of the Infinite that
inspires our intimacies of care and concern for
one another.
"Rejoice, O highly
favored daughter...Blessed are you among women" (Luke
1:28) (in other words, "Mary,
you are the greatest!").
A poor peasant girl receives an unprecedented
call to greatness. She is told that she will play
a unique role in human history. Then, through
the same messenger, God tells her that she shall
conceive and bear a Son and give Him the name
of Jesus. Great will be His dignity. . .He will
rule over the House of Jacob forever and His reign
will be without end...the holy Offspring to be
born will be called the Son of God. (Luke
1:28,31,33,35).
Mary is troubled and fearful at first. "How
can this be?" she asks. But when the angel
reassures her that he is indeed speaking for God,
she quickly makes her acceptance speech. Mary
says, I am the servant
of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say. (Luke
1:38).
Emmanuel . . . God is with us! , God is speaking
to us, calling us to greatness. Through the teachings
of Jesus, God is asking each of us to play a unique
role in human history. God is telling us that
He loves us. God is telling us that in order
to experience His intimate Presence in our lives
we must love one another as He loves us.
Jazz Pianist John Colianni tells the story of his three-year-old
son, Torre, saying his night prayers last Christmas Eve:
My wife, Denise, and I were watching at
his bedroom door. Without any prompting, he
had dropped to his knees, put his hands together
in an attitude of prayer, closed his eyes,
and gave every sign of being in intimate communication
with the Lord. Finally he rose, rubbing his
eyes and looking very intense. We were impressed.
Then Denise asked, "Torre,
what did you say to God in your prayers?" Torre
replied, "I asked Him, won't you guide Santa's
sleigh tonight?'"
This Christmas we pray for peace, we pray for
each other's well-being, we pray for many things,
but . . . prayers are not always answered as we
wish, nevertheless . . . prayers are always answered!
Prayers are answered in ways that unfold with
time.
None of us has God in his or her hip pocket,
but all of us have God in our heart, so that
in the face of life's situations — even
life's dark situations — we are able
to say: "Nothing
happens without purpose; what is happening to
me is part of life's adventure; God is within
me and this experience." When we say this,
and do this, we're getting the message; we're
in on a wonderful Christmas secret. And then
it's Christmas every day!
Blessings,
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