Every once in awhile, God provides a "teaching moment", an opportunity for us to step back and look at things in a new and different way. Once, about a week before Christmas, I was in our local supermarket. There is always a sale table, I look over the merchandise but seldom buy anything. That day, amidst the usual glittery Christmas decorations and ornaments, I spotted a small statue about 10 inches high of the holy family, done in pastels. The expressions on the faces were wonderful - the loving mother, the protecting father, the innocent baby. Joseph had one arm around Mary, the other shielding the baby Jesus. I decided it would be my Christmas treat to myself. As the young clerk began to wrap the figures in tissue paper to put in a box, she noticed that one of the fingers on Joseph's left hand, the one shielding the child, was damaged at the first joint.

"Oh," she said. "it's broken." Without missing a beat, I replied, "Joseph was a carpenter". She looked at me with a puzzled expression. "Every carpenter I know has injured a finger or two during his career." I continued. She smiled and agreed with me. So the Joseph with the broken finger came home with me.

And isn't that what Christmas is all about? God sent a flawless person to heal a damaged world. We all are broken in some way, physically, mentally, spiritually, socially, living in a broken world. This precious babe of Bethlehem was the only perfect human being, The holy infant, who came into this world exactly like every other mortal - tiny, helpless, and homeless - is God's promise of wholeness and perfection.

May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior who came this night as a perfect child to give healing and wholeness to a broken people in a broken world. Amen.

   Still, Still, Still (Austrian carol)
Still, still, still.The night is cold and chill!
The virgin's tender arms enfolding,
Warm and safe the Christ child holding.
Still, still, still,The night is cold and chill.
 
Schlaf, schlaf, schlaf. Mein liebes Kindlein, schlaf.
Die Engel tun schön musizieren,
Bei dem Kindlein jubilieren,
Schlaf, schlaf, schlaf, Mein liebes Kindlein, schlaf!
 
Dream, dream, dream. He sleeps, the Savior King.
While guardian angels watch beside Him,
Mary tenderly will guide Him.
Dream, dream, dream. He sleeps the Savior King

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Contributed by Rosemary S.
Sunday December 24, 2006
Liturgical Year C Week 4