The Incarnation
1992 (Year A) 27 December / Christmas 1
St Peter de Beauvoir Town
It was Christmas Eve and the church was full of people. The place was delightful, filled with candlelight. Everybody was enjoying the atmosphere and had gathered round the crib. They were offering their gifts to the Christ child prior to them being distributed to those in need. A clown entered and saw what was happening, but he had nothing to give. When the service was over everyone left. The priest went back to the sacristy to clear up and before leaving returned to church, just to make sure everything was well. In front of the crib he saw the clown tumbling and jumping, somersaulting and leaping. The priest stopped him, ‘What are you doing?’ he asked. ‘I had nothing to offer,’ said the clown; ‘This is my gift for Jesus.’ The priest let him stay.
There are any number of similar stories. I could’ve told you the one about a green wheelbarrow. I have told you the ones about Papa Panov and Babushka. I’m saving the ones about Don Pedro, Seth and St Lucy for another time. All are heavy with sentiment – it drops from them in great big dollops. But then after all, this is a time for indulging in such things. You’ve only had to watch the television for a few minutes over the last day or so to realise that.
They are all useful in other ways and they have several things in common. One is that they help us to open our hearts, often a dangerous thing, because when we do that we become vulnerable, but it is necessary every so often to have the walls which we defend ourselves with broken down. Another is that they have at their heart the notion of a gift. It may be a talent or a skill, because usually the giver is too poor to give material presents. More often than not it’s a mere trifle, something taken for granted and not valued very much either by the giver or by other people. But it’s offered and we know from somewhere deep down in our hearts, from the very bottom of our being that it’s acceptable, it’s alright. It’s more than alright, it’s just the right thing to give, and at the right time too.
And the stories would ring bells for many children in this country, most of whom have been looking forward to receiving gifts. They’ve looked forward to the coming of Father Christmas. In Holland, St Nicholas, dressed as a Bishop, has been and gone. France has Pere Noel. Germany the Christkind. In some parts of the United States his name is Kris Kringle although the Dutch settlers there called him Sinta Class. All of the children know that this is a time above all of gift.
Yet all the gifts they’ve received pale into insignificance compared with the gift from God. The Divine outpouring of love for the persons of his creation. The gift of Jesus.
And the stories are all just a bit worrying too, because the birth of Our Lord is a matter of more than sentiment. It’s more than having our hearts opened, although heaven knows we need that. And it’s even more than just remembering our manners and being thankful for what we’ve been given.
To explain this would take forever so let me just tell you another story and you’ll be able to work it out for yourselves.
A monk left his monastery and set out on his travels. He walked all day but eventually he had to rest. He stopped, took off his pack, and looking down, saw a most beautiful jewel. He picked it up and put it in his knapsack. The next day he continued and before long met a merchant. They determined to walk on together and eventually they decided that they would share the evening meal. As the monk opened his bag the merchant glimpsed the jewel. He remarked about the beauty of it and as they parted in the morning the monk gave it to him.
The merchant couldn’t believe his luck. He knew he had no need ever to work again, the jewel was so valuable. He was exultant. He continued his journey but during the day doubts began to assail him. In the end he could bear it no longer. He determined to return and find the monk. Eventually after many days he found him, ‘Thank you for the jewel’, he said, ‘but I give it back to you.’ ‘Whatever for!’ asked the monk. ‘I want you to give me something which is even more valuable’, replied the merchant. ‘What is that?’ asked the monk. ‘I want you,’ said the merchant, ‘I want you, to give me whatever it was that enabled you to give it to me in the first place.’ AMEN