“Moses said to YHWH, “But, never in my life have I been a man of eloquence,
either before or
since you have spoken to your servant.” Ex 4:10
The Feast of Christmas
For me the reality of Christ is best understood by artist,
poets, musicians and children. So I offer a simple story that might just touch
your heart. This story can help us by pass the sentimentality which so often
seems to cloud the Christmas feast of the 'incarnation'.
Once upon a time ... there were some very poor people who
lived in a forest village in old Rumania. Their poverty was most clearly
reflected in the ramshackle Church which stood near the town centre. When
visitors came, villagers often said apologetically, "Someday we're going
to build a beautiful Cathedral like the one on the other side of the
forest." Oh how they did admire the neighbouring Church. In fact, on
special occasions, they often trekked through the forest to that big Cathedral.
It just seemed that God was nearer to them in this majestic setting. When they
made the trip through the dense forest, however, it was necessary to pass by a
well which was supposed to be haunted. It was said that if you didn't throw a
coin into the well, something would drag you down into it and you would never
be seen again . . . (fear has a way of getting into all of our lives) ... One
cold, dark Christmas Eve, a little boy named Raul passed by on his way to the
Cathedral, carrying only a small candle to light his way. Back in the village,
Raul's mother was terribly sick, perhaps dying. Raul hoped to place his candle
on the altar of the big Cathedral and pray for her recovery. As he came near
the well, he heard a moan. It was then he realized he had forgotten to bring a
coin. Terrified, Raul started to run. But he tripped and fell by the well's edge.
There he heard a child's voice. "Help me out. Give me your light so I can
see my way." "This candle is for my mother," Raul said,
trembling. "I must take it to the altar of the big Church so that she will
get well." "Can you refuse me on the night of Christ's birth?"
the voice from the well pleaded. Raul thought for a moment. Then he lowered the
candle into the well and fell weeping on his knees in the darkness. Suddenly,
the lighted candle returned. Looking up, Raul saw a child stepping out of the
well holding the little candle in his hand. "Go back home," said the
little child, "your mother will live." Raul ran home and found his
mother waiting for him as though she had never been ill. Later that night, they
went together to the shabby village Church to give thanks. When they entered,
they were nearly blinded by the light which streamed from the altar. Bathed in
such splendour, the old Church was every bit as beautiful as the neighbouring
big Cathedral. "Why Raul," exclaimed his mother, "there is only
one candle on the altar. How can one candle make such light?" Raul was too
awed to speak, for as he knelt before the altar, he saw that it was his very
own candle. The light he had given away had been given back a thousand-fold!
The profound truth of the Christmas Message is that the
"Word became flesh" to show us in a once-and-for-all way what life is
all about. The profound truth of the Christmas Message is that the 'Word became
flesh' to show us what it means to be fully human. The profound truth of the
Christmas Message is that the 'Word became flesh' to show us the Unlimited Love
of a Gracious God, and to show us how to share it. The profound truth of the
Christmas Message is, as the Apostle John has written, "The Word was made
flesh and he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that is his as the
only Son of the Father, full of trust and grace." (Jn. 1:14).
