There’s been an interesting bit of seasonal information appearing on the Internet lately. Perhaps you’ve seen it. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer of each year, sometime between late October and mid December male reindeer lose theirs. Female reindeer, on the other hand, retain their antlers until after they give birth in the spring. Now think about it, since all of Santa’s reindeer are always depicted with antlers, it only goes to prove that every one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, has to be female. The more you think about it, the more it makes sense. After all, only women, while pregnant, would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost once!
We women, after all, are extraordinary, pregnant or otherwise. Right ladies? At this time of year, of course, our thoughts turn to a particularly extraordinary woman, pregnant with a child who one day would be called “Son of the Most High,” who one day would ascend the throne of King David and rule the house of Jacob forever (Luke 1:32-32).
With God’s son living and growing within her, Mary had every reason to take good care of herself and stay in Nazareth. Instead, she opted to travel the lonely, dangerous road from Galilee to the hills of Judea to visit her cousin Elizabeth, also pregnant. As much as Mary may have wanted to remain in the safety and seclusion of her Nazareth home, the child forming within her had other plans. They were plans that called for travel, not a stationary existence. Even before his birth, Jesus gave a clear signal that he was coming to do extraordinary things. He didn’t intend to stay put and wait for us to come to him. No, Jesus was coming to us, ready or not.
Today’s story of Mary and Elizabeth conveys one of the primary characteristics of Christianity. Christianity is outgoing, action oriented, not static. It encourages relationship with others, reaching out to those in need. Jesus demonstrated this for the first time when he left the spiritual realm to come into our world.
And come Jesus did! A prominent theme of Luke’s Gospel is one of journey or travel. Even though early on crowds that followed Jesus tried to prevent him from leaving them, he made it clear that his mission required movement from place to place, “To other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom,” he said, “because for this purpose I have been sent” (Luke 4:42-43).
In just four more days it will be Christmas. If you think about it, it is more a matter of Christmas coming to us than our coming to Christmas. Christmas, after all, is God’s idea, not ours. Who could have thought in their wildest imaginations that God would become flesh and live among us? But he did just that, over 2000 years ago and we celebrate that historic event every year on December 25th The miracle didn’t end there, however, because he continues to come to us, ready or not, not just at a particular time, but all the time and in every place.
Six years ago this month, little Davy, the son of friends of ours, was born with life threatening heart problems. For the first three months of his life, the infant, his parents and family, endured seemingly countless tests, X-rays, surgeries, and medications. Fortunately, by the grace of God and skill of the medical profession, Davy’s health problems were corrected. Davy’s parents, however, who were lukewarm about their faith before his birth, were downright skeptical about it afterwards. They blamed God for causing or allowing their newborn’s medical condition. It was impossible for them to see Jesus in anything they or their son had experienced.
Davy’s life for the next 3 ½ years was normal. He was “all boy,” always roughhousing, doing somersaults, rolling down hills, so his mom wasn’t too concerned when, 2 ½ years ago, she started to notice bruises on his body. When the bruises became more numerous, however, and wouldn’t heal, she took him to the doctor. Blood tests were ordered. Later, on that same day, her husband out of town on business, Davy’s mom got a phone call. It was Davy’s doctor. “Take Davy to the hospital’s Emergency Department immediately. I’ve called ahead and they’re waiting for him. We need to do more blood work.”
A few hours later his mother got news no parent ever wants to hear, “Your son has leukemia.” During the initial six weeks of in-hospital chemotherapy treatments, Davy’s mom hardly ever left his side, sleeping right next to him in an adjacent bed, eating with him when he could eat, reading to him, playing with him and just helping him cope with the often heart wrenching effects of his treatments. His parents questioned, repeatedly, how Davy and they could endure this physical and emotional pain again? It wasn’t fair. If they couldn’t see Jesus in their lives before, they certainly couldn’t see him now.
After leaving the hospital, Davy spent the next two years of his young life coping with tubes extending from his chest, on again-off again pick lines in his arm, numerous infections and surgical procedures. It was the worst of times. But during that time he and his parents also encountered compassionate and caring medical personnel, like the anesthesiologist who dressed up as Spiderman for each of Davy’s surgeries and the visiting nurse who always left Davy a treat when she came to clean his tubes. There were the family members who brought food and offered to baby-sit so that his parents could have an occasional night out. When events seemed to become overwhelming, there were friends who helped with yard work and ran errands. No, it wasn’t the best of times, but what Davy’s parents came to realize was that Jesus, in the form of doctors and nurses, family and friends, hadn’t abandoned them, but was there with them every step of the way.
Yes, Jesus comes to us each day, and we celebrate his first coming at this time of year. Christmas challenges us in a special way to forget our fear of becoming an involved Christian and to be filled with the same energy and enthusiasm of Mary’s son. He comes to do God’s will and to inspire us to do it too. Four more days to Christmas. That gives Jesus just enough time to get ready, get set, and come to us again in the peace, joy, and glory of this wonderful season. Four more days to Christmas. That also gives us just enough time to get ready, get set, and go with Jesus to assist in carrying out his action plan.
In closing I’d like to share a seasonal rendition of a passage from First Corinthians which Jerry Norton sent to me.
If I decorate the outside of my house perfectly with wreaths, Santa Claus, and hundreds of twinkling lights,
But do not show love to my family. I'm just another exterior decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas
cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at meal times,
But do not show love to my friends and family. I'm just another cook.
If I work at a soup kitchen, carol in a nursing home and write a check to charity,
But do not show love to my friends and loved ones. It profits me nothing.
If I buy stacks of gifts, attend countless parties, participate in Christmas pageants,
But do not focus on Christ. I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating and partying to kiss the spouse.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas table linens and more outdoor decorations.
Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way.
Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.
Video games will break, diamond bracelets will be lost, golf clubs will rust.
But giving the gift of love will endure forever.
Four more days to Christmas. Each of those days we pray, “Come, Lord Jesus!” But, the day after that fourth day it will be Jesus’ turn to say to us, “I have come, so now let’s go! Let’s do God’s will together. Today I come through you.”
Gloria S. Sciolino
4th Sunday of Advent-Cycle C
December 21, 2003
Micah 5:1-4; Hebrews 10:5-10;
Luke 1:39-45