by Father Mark Goldasich
You can’t outdo the Christmas story. The best we humans can do is create ones that convey how that birth of a Child in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago continues to impact our world.
With that in mind, consider this tale:
In World War II, a soldier was on duty on Christmas morning. It had been his custom to attend Midnight Mass every Christmas with his family but now, serving in the army on the outlying districts of London, this was impossible. So, with some of his soldier buddies, as dawn was breaking, he walked down the road that led to the city.
Soon, they came upon an old, gray, stone building over whose main door was carved the words: Queen Ann’s Orphanage. They decided to knock and see what kind of celebration was taking place inside.
In response to their knock, a matron came and explained that the children were orphans whose parents had been killed in one of the many bombings that took place in London. The soldiers went inside just as the children were tumbling out of bed.
There was no Christmas tree in the corner, no presents. The soldiers moved around the room wishing the children, “Merry Christmas!” and giving them whatever gifts they had in their pockets: a stick of chewing gum, a Life Saver, a nickel, a dime, a pencil, a pocketknife, a good luck charm.
The soldier who had gotten his buddies together noticed a little fellow alone in the corner — a kid who looked an awful lot like his nephew back home. Approaching the child, he said, “And you, little guy, what do you want for Christmas?”
The kid looked up and said, “Will you hold me?”
The soldier, with tears brimming in his eyes, picked up the little boy and held him very close in his arms. (Story found in William S. Bausch’s “A World of Stories for Preachers and Teachers.”)
Somewhere along the way, we became confused about an important Christmas word. It’s not really “presents,” the material gifts we give, as nice as those are; rather, it’s all about “presence,” being there for one another in imitation of Jesus who chose to dwell among us.
That soldier in the story above understood this: There’s no material gift that can compare with holding one another.
This Christmas, in addition to any presents you bring to family and friends, don’t forget the “presence,” the incredible joy of being with people you love. Let hugs and laughter be abundant.
But leave room for others in these days as well:
• Hold in memory family and friends who are no longer physically present around your Christmas tree and table.
• Hold in prayer those for whom Christmas is a sad time: folks who have recently lost a loved one; people who are lonely or feel forgotten; those burdened by health concerns, financial worries or lack of the necessities of life.
• Hold in your heart those who are far from home during the holidays: members of the military serving abroad; those financially unable to afford to go home; students studying in foreign countries. (This last one I know, having spent six Christmases away from home while a seminarian in Rome.)
• Hold close people who lack Christ’s gift of peace: folks in war-torn areas; splintered families; people struggling with addictions or mental illness.
Let’s be “present” to those we share Christmas with and all who are in need as we send out this prayer:
“May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the Magi and the peace of the Christ Child. Almighty God — Father, Son and Holy Spirit — bless you now and forever.”
(Author Unknown)
