The Incarnation
1992 (Year C) 5 January / Christmas 2
St Peter de Beauvoir Town
Everyone in the village was excited. A star had been seen and people were guessing what it might mean. But not everyone was interested. Baboushka had work to do. She always had. She swept and polished, washed and painted. Her garden was beautiful and her cooking was superb. So she missed the star when it came. The sound of the pipes and drums, the voices and the whispers. But the knocking on the door, she couldn’t miss that.
‘My masters seek a place to rest,’ said the servant. ‘You want to stay here,’ gaped Baboushka in astonishment. ‘Only till the star appears again,’ was the reply.
The kings were amazed at the sight of the home baked bread, the meat pies, the cake, jams and spices. As she dashed about serving them Baboushka asked if they had come far. ‘A long way,’ said Caspar. ‘We’re following a star,’ said Melchior, ‘but we don’t know where yet.’ They said that in the end they thought it would take them to a king, a king such as the world had never seen before. A king of Earth and Heaven.
Why don’t you come with us?’ said Balthazar. Bring him a gift as we do. See I bring gold, and my colleagues bring spices and ointments.’ ‘I’m not sure the King would welcome me’, said Baboushkar. And as for a gift…’
‘This pickle is excellent. Fit for any King,’ cried Balthazar. ‘Pickle, for a baby,’ laughed Baboushka, ‘A baby needs toys. I have a cupboard full of toys. My baby son, my little king, died when very small.’ She began her work again but Balthazar stopped her. ‘This baby King could be your king too. Come with us when the star appears again tonight’. ‘I’ll think about it,’ Baboushka said. But there were so many things to do. The house would never be cleaned – she just couldn’t leave.
At night the three men came to her. ‘Are you ready?’ they asked. ‘I’m busy just now. Go on ahead I’ll catch you up,’ she said. The kings waved sadly and Baboushka began her work again.
At last she finished work and went and looked at the toys. They weren’t fit for a King. They must be cleaned. She worked and worked until at last she fell asleep. When she woke it was dark.
She rushed about packing and then dashed to the next village. ‘Have you seen the kings?’ she asked anxiously. ‘Oh yes we saw them. They went that way,’ she was told. On and on she went. Days passed. Baboushka lost count. ]
Eventually she came to a village called Bethlehem. ‘Have you seen the Kings,’ she asked. ‘Oh yes,’ said a landlord, ‘but they didn’t stay long.’ ‘And a baby,’ cried Baboushka, ‘Was there a baby?’ Yes there was a baby. But the family have gone to Egypt. I’m sorry but you’re too late. Shepherds came as soon as the angels told them. The kings came as soon as they saw the star.’
It’s said that Babushka’s journey continues, for time means nothing to those who search for the things that are real. Year after year she goes from house to house calling ‘Is he here? Is the Christ child here?’
And so it is for many. Yet for some the journey has ended, for they had eyes to see and ears to hear and they have embraced the Son of God. The opportunity came and they took it. The promise has been fulfilled. In the gospel reading Simeon was told that he wouldn’t see death until he had seen the Messiah. As he took the child Jesus into his arms he is recorded in one version as saying, ‘Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared in the face of all people.’
May we have the determination and single-mindedness to follow those who are on their way to the feast in the kingdom and may we have the clarity of vision to recognise Christ when he comes to us. AMEN