Christmas and Happy New Year.

I hope that this message finds you and your family in good health. During these unprecedented times, we once again find ourselves within the midst of a surge. It seems that each month that passes, what we hoped for seems farther and farther away. We will, however, stay the course.

We are in the midst of the 12 days of Christmas. I was 50 years old when I learned that the 12 days of Christmas referred to the days in between Christmas and Epiphany. How did I not know that! It is one of those facts that escapes many of us: we feel that on December 26th the season is over- onto the New Year. I have to admit that I have already packed everything up from Christmas and put it away. Partly because I have a 4 month old puppy who has enjoyed many a Christmas decoration and partly because I am a teacher with a week off, knowing full well that next week will be all hands on deck. Time will slip away and I will be thrown back into reality as the Christmas season fades.

The one thing that I do not pack away is the Nativity set. I like looking at it. I like to think about the scene that is set before us. The first person to recreate the nativity was St Francis nearly 1000 years after the birth of Jesus. He staged the scene with animals. It took someone 1000 years to recreate the greatest event the world had ever seen. I wonder why that was. I wonder why early Christians did not feel a need to imagine what it might have been like so many nights before when a young, teenage girl all alone with her husband go to a strange town and get caught having a baby with no place to go.

I look at the scene and I wonder where I would be that night: where do I fit into the Nativity scene. I see Mary with her baby and think: I can relate to her- I was a young mom with absolutely no idea what the world held for me and my baby. My husband looked as clueless as Joseph and as helpless. They had been given this great gift, this great task- were they up to it? Could they raise this child to be the man that he was meant to be? Now I did not raise the son of God; but I did raise up children that were given to me as gifts from God and they are the heirs toheaven. As always we parents, look at Joseph and Mary with understanding to the long road ahead.

Would I have been a shepherd: would I have traveled to see the birth of a baby that may or may not have been the promised one. Sure the angels came and opened the heavens but it could have been a dream; an illusion from being alone in the night. Could I have wanted it so much that I imagined it to be? And why oh why would God announce his son’s birth to me- a shepherd- a noone tending my flock at night. Are you the shepherd? Do you believe that God could not possibly be calling you? And if he is, where do you fit into all of this? Who cares what I have to say about God? I am not anyone important- and yet God chose me. That is quite a thought to ponder as a shepherd and a Catholic. Why did God choose me?

I don’t think I am a wise man: I am neither wise nor rich. Why are they there if not to lavish the infant with gifts that he does not need? Were you not thinking that possibly he might need a better place to stay? Food? Protection from his enemies? I suppose they thought why are the shepherds here? Why a stable? At first, they go to a palace right and then they are told there is no king here. They must have thought what kind of King is born in a stable- a cut out cave in a mountain where animals live. Are we wrong? Are we lost? And then again the angels come to them and say: “No you are right where you need to be?” The shepherds were probably wondering if they should have brought a gift. So muddled this scene if you look closely at it and yet so true of us today.

There we are, at our little Bethlehem, each of us wondering WHY God has called us there. We have the parents who are befuddled with keeping the kids quiet and behaved as they struggle to keep inside all the fears and worries they have for these precious children. There are those of us there as the Shepherds- wondering why in the world would God call us. What is that we bring to this scene? We are the lowly, the downtrodden and the poor. Who are we in God’s eyes. And then, ofcourse there is the Kings. They come to our Bethlehem robbed in splendor and they know why they are here- the bring the greatest gifts. Or so we all think. Do not forget the angels in all this- the purveyor of God’s word. They are calling us all to come and we know not why until we look at the one person who is the center of all of this: the baby Jesus.

The common thread in our Bethlehem as in all Bethlehems across history is Jesus.  Jesus called the poor, the rich, the animals and the mom/dads to him to say that each of you has a gift to bring me. Some of you can see it right away and know- others need time to develop their gift and whatever your circumstances do not let them deter you from seeking me and worshipping me. I AM HERE! Not just at Christmas but everyday and I am waiting for you all.

In the New Year, remember to try and make that trip to Bethlehem each week. Come and worship- come and sing- come and witness all the others amongst us who are seeking and searching. May God Bless us all in the coming year!

Lucy
Saint Boniface Religious Education Coordinator