Good evening and
Merry Christmas!
One of the
Christmas traditions in my house is that every year, my wife and I buy a new
crèche – a new manger scene. We have a tiny
snowglobe manger scene, a fine porcelain stable with the Holy Family and the
three kings, we have one from our honeymoon in Hawaii made from a coconut. Last
year we bought outdoor figurines – for which I just build a five-foot tall
stable out on the front lawn. After 26
years of marriage, we’ve got at least that many baby Jesuses in the house.
One of the things I
noticed about these creches is that most of them, if you pick it up and look on
the bottom, says “made in China.” In
fact, I had to search the house to find one
(other than the coconut crèche which was in fact made in Hawaii) that wasn’t
made in China.
I know there are
Christians in China, but they’re few and far between. In a recent trip there, I saw one tiny
building from a distance that might have been a church, but in four days there
never almost nothing to do with religion, especially Christian religion.
So I got to thinking, and maybe you’ve
wondered this, too, what goes through the mind of these Chinese factory
workers, who all day long put the red noses on Rudolph, paint the scarves and
buttons on Frosty, and especially what goes through their minds as they paint
Mary’s shawl blue and gold or the baby Jesus’ cheeks pink?
My mind drifted
off, and I imagined myself outside the factory gate as the workers filed out at
the end of the day, and imagined that one of them, somehow knowing that I’m a
Christian, walks up to me and asks me something like this –
“What gives with this
reindeer and snowman? And this baby, in a stable, in a manger, surrounded by
mother and father and farm animals and shepherds? What’s that all about? Who is
this little baby whose cheeks I’ve been painting pink all day long?
“Oh and my bus
comes in five minutes so please - make it quick!”
Five minutes to
explain your faith, five minutes to explain the wondrous feast we celebrate
this night, five minutes to speak of the Savior of the world – what would you
say?
After some thought
and prayer, I decided this is what I would tell her:
I would tell her –
“First of all,
forget the reindeer and snowmen. It’s
all about the baby.
“You see, we Christians
believe that the God who created the universe, who created you and me, loves us
more than we can ever comprehend. But
since the beginning of time, since there were people on earth, humankind has
rejected that love, turned away from that loving God. God drew together a nation, a chosen people,
and even this beloved Hebrew people turned away, even after all that God had
done for them. He had freed them from
slavery in Egypt, had given them His law (not for His sake but for their own benefit),
and gave to them their own land, blessing them with abundance.
“Still, they turned
away, neglecting the poor and weak, worshipping false gods or not worshipping
at all, and sinning against the law He had given them. He sent prophets to call for them to change
their ways, even caused their nation to fall and be exiled, but He relented and
brought them back. Still, they were
unfaithful to the covenant He had made with them. They were hopeless, lost in their godless
ways, wandering in the dark, doomed to live apart from Him, in this life and in
eternal life.
“But God so loved
His people that He refused to give up on them.
Refused to leave them alone. In
the fullness of time, He sent His very Son to become one of them, to save them and
restore them to His friendship! God made man. A King, like His forefather
David. “That little baby whose face you spent the day painting? That’s Jesus,
that’s Him! It’s all for the grand
celebration of His birthday.
But the story
doesn’t end there. No.
“We believe that He
grew up, and like His Father all through history, He was also rejected and was even
killed. But that had to be, as three
days later, He rose from the dead, and by His death and resurrection, He opened
for us who believe in Him the gates of eternal life. He ascended to His Father, but left them the
gift of sacrament, His very Body and Blood to strengthen them. Sent His Holy Spirit to empower all who
believe in Him. And drew together a new
people of His followers, a Church, to carry on His mission, to live as He
taught, and to spread word of Him to the ends of the earth.”
Here comes her bus
down the street, so I have only a moment to get in a last word:
“But this story isn’t
a history lesson,” I continue. “No! He
lives! Even though He was born 2000 years ago, He lives today, and longs to be
in relationship with every one of us, with me, with you! So that we who have truly encountered Him are
changed forever, and live only for Him.
Him who is our only hope in this dark and sinful world. That by our encounter with Him we learn to
reject godless ways and worldly desires and live according to the law of love He
has written on our hearts. As we await
His coming again at the end of time!”
“Here comes your bus,”
I say. “Thank you for listening, and
thank you for your hard work to make our Christmas special! God bless you!”
* * * *
* * * * * *
My sisters and
brothers, it’s not about the reindeer and the snowmen or Santa
Claus. It’s all about Him. Much of the world and certainly much of our
nation will find some measure of happiness this Christmas, whether they know
Him or not. Happiness in seeing relatives
who live far away, or the return of students from college, the homecoming of a
son or daughter serving in the military.
The giving of gifts. Or simply
the partying and feasting.
But we’ll only
experience real joy by recognizing in this tiny newborn baby Him who
desires to be the king of our hearts. By
seeing in the gift of this little child a God who loves you and me beyond all
measure. By recognizing that we – you
and I - need a savior, that by ourselves we are doomed to
self-centeredness and powerless against temptation and sin. That in the manger of Bethlehem lay the only
hope for this dark world. And that
real joy, and peace, come from complete abandonment of ourselves in relationship
with Him.
Brothers and
sisters, if you have been blessed with this kind of faith, if you come here
this holy night with great faith in Him and great joy in your hearts, praise
and thank God and ask Him to deepen that faith.
If you have been
away from Him, whether a few days or a few weeks or many years, or if you’ve
never really known Him, pray! Pray that He come into your heart anew and set
your heart on fire with love and faith, and yes, His great joy.
No matter your
past, no matter the condition of your heart or the yoke of sin you bear this
night, He sleeps there in the manger with arms open, He hangs there on the Cross
with arms stretched wide, to embrace you and welcome you and let you know His
immeasurable love and mercy. He bids you – come home!
My dear sisters and
brothers - Joy to the world - the Lord is come! Alleluia! Alleluia!
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