Weekly THIS AND THAT for December 13, 2009: "Why Christmas Is Merry"

This and That:
“Why Christmas is Merry”


At the turn of the century, in the Eastern European Jewish community, when a child began school at the advanced age of four, it was customary to have a party. Admist adoring family and friends, the father would ask: “What five books are you going to school to learn?” The child would reply, “The five books of Moses.” And which book will you study first? “Leviticus.” Why? “Because Leviticus deals with sacrifices and sacrifices are PURE, like a little child.”

How pure and innocent was that sacrifice born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. The ancient pagans could NEVER image that the son of any of their gods could be an infant. The son of a god was always portrayed as a powerful warrior, fully grown, perfectly formed. When the son of any god appeared, he would CRUSH evildoers. With the son of a god, he would wipe out sinners, such that only the perfect would survive. People would live in constant fear, lest they do something wrong, and offend the divine son, and be destroyed by him.

How utterly different the actual coming of the son of God turned out! God’s son came because He loved people despite our sinfulness. He knew humans were in a hopeless state of sinfulness. The problem then was simply: How Do You SAVE SOMETHING YOU LOVE – WHEN THAT SOMETHING IS SO IMPERFECT?

Well, one thing is for certain --- you don’t crush and destroy it! You deal gently with something you love. Besides that, you have to get in there with them, you have to be accessible .You don’t frighten them off. The good won’t happen overnight, it has to be gradual. You have to arouse their hopes, and show them there are new beginnings and fresh attempts.

Was there any way of getting these ideas across? Yes, there was!

If God came to earth as a pure, innocent baby to sacrifice himself, He could show humankind that this was how He intended to save them.

And so it happened. As St. Luke records it: “This shall be the sign. You shall find a BABY.”

Is there anything more gentle than a baby? Is there anything more accessible than a baby? Is there anything more gradual than a baby’s birth and growth? Is there anything more hopeful than a baby?

“I am a little child -- and a little child is pure. That’s the message of Christmas. It’s the feast for which children are indispensable.

As we adults look into their happy faces and witness their lively celebration of the good in life, we are reminded of a divine child--- gentle, accessible, growing, hopeful. Yes, there’s HOPE for all of us--- even the worst of us.

“If you become as little children, you will enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Merry Christmas

Love,
Jack