by Father Mark Goldasich
As is true, I’m sure, at most family gatherings — especially during the holidays — the stories flow as plentifully as the hot chocolate or eggnog. Some are heartwarming, others embarrassing (but funny) and still others, thought provoking. Paralleling that pattern, here are three stories for the Christmas holiday:
Two brothers worked together on a family farm. One was unmarried and the other was married with children. They always shared equally what they grew — both produce and profit.
But one day, the single brother said to himself, “You know, it’s not right that we should share the produce equally, and the profit, too. After all, I’m all alone, just by myself, and my needs are simple. But there’s my poor brother with a wife and all those children.” So, each night, in the middle of the night, he took a sack of grain from his bin, crept over the field between their houses and dumped it into his brother’s bin.
Meanwhile, unknown to him, his brother had a similar thought. He said to himself, “You know, it’s not right that we should share produce and profit equally. After all, I’m married and blessed to have a wonderful, loving wife to look after me and my children for years to come. But my brother has no one, and no one to take care of his future.” So, he too, in the middle of the night, took a sack of grain from his bin and sneaked across the field to deposit it in his brother’s bin.
Each night for years, the brothers did this. And both were always puzzled as to why their supply did not dwindle.
Well, one Christmas night, it just so happened that they both set out for each other’s house at the same time. In the dark, they bumped into each other carrying their sacks. Each was startled! But then, it slowly dawned on them what was happening. They dropped their sacks and embraced one another. Suddenly, the dark sky lit up and a voice from heaven spoke, “Here at last is the place where I will build my Temple. For where brothers meet in love, there my presence shall dwell.” (Story found in William J. Bausch’s “A World of Stories for Preachers and Teachers.”)
The next two stories, found in “Illustrations Unlimited” (edited by James S. Hewett), direct our attention to the fact that perhaps many people have lost sight of what is “the reason for the season.”
Story number one takes place a few days before Christmas and finds two women gazing through a downtown department store window. Their attention is focused on a large display of a Nativity scene with clay figures of the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men and the animals.
Disgustedly, one woman turns to the other and says, “Look at that, will you, the church is now trying to horn in on Christmas!”
The second story takes place in a family that celebrated Christmas every year with its heart in the right place by holding a birthday party for Jesus. An extra chair of honor at the table became the family’s reminder of Jesus’ presence. A cake with candles, along with the singing of “Happy Birthday” expressed the family’s joy in Jesus’ coming.
One year, a Christmas afternoon visitor asked 5-year-old Ruth, “Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?”
After a moment’s hesitation, she answered, “No . . . but then, it’s not my birthday!”
May the stories of our Christmas gatherings never forget that one tale we’re all privileged to tell: that of a God so full of love that he sent his only Son to dwell among us.
