A Thought on Sunday

From the desk of Fr.Ignatius Waters CP

  Sunday  December  25, 2011

This Nativity scene linking Ireland and Africa was painted, I think, by Sr. Philomena Fox, one of the first Holy Rosary Sisters.  The following is a brief summary of a school play scripted and acted in Africa.  After the wise men have come and gone, three more strange characters appear on stage.  One is dressed in rags, hobbling along on a stick.  The second is naked except for a tattered pair of shorts and is bound in chains.  The third is the most weird.  He has a whitened face, a grey wig and an Afro shirt.  A chorus of men and women cry out, “Close the door Joseph, these hobos are coming to steal all we have!”  But Joseph says, “No, everyone can come to this child, the poor, the rich, the unhappy. Let them in!”

The men enter and stand staring at the child.  Joseph picks up the gifts the wise men have left.  To the man in rags he says, “You are poor; take this gold and buy what you need.”  To the man in chains he says, “Take this Myrrh ointment, and it will heal your wrists and ankles.” To the depressed man he says, “Your mind is in anguish. Take this frankincense. The aroma will soothe your troubled soul.”

But the first man says, “Do not give me this gold.  People will think I’ve stolen it!  And sadly, in a few years, people will think this child is a criminal too!”  The second man says, “Do not give me this ointment.  Keep it for the child. One day he will be wearing chains like these.”  The third man says, “I have no faith in God or anything!  Let the child keep the incense. One day he will doubt his Father too!”

While Mary and Joseph cover their faces, the men address the child: “Little one, you do not belong to the country of gold and frankincense.  You belong to our world.  We will share our things with you.  The first says, “Take my ragged shirt.  You will need it when they strip you naked.”  The second says, “I will leave you my chains. One day you will really know the pain of humanity.”  The third says, “I give you my depression, my loss of faith in God and everything.  I can’t carry it any longer. Carry it with your own!”

The three men walk back out into the night but the darkness is different.  They notice the stars now.   And they come to see that God is present in that innocent child and they begin to believe that this human mess is the manger of hope for themselves and the world. Christmas reveals that there is light within the darkness, a love within the cross and a life within each death!                                               

A very happy and peaceful Christmas to you all!