Notebook
It was St Stephen’s morning and I was in the sacristy for morning Mass. As I got ready, I asked one of the altar servers if he had an enjoyable Christmas Day. I had follow-up questions as well: “What did you get from Santa?” Is that what you wanted?” Even more questions, if needed, but I was not totally prepared for his reply. Neither was I totally shocked. He was a good-humoured lad, wise beyond his years and had a twist on things that came from listening to older people’s conversations. He looked at me and, with a slight shake of the head, said: “It’s as far away as ever!”
Answers
My mind wandered to another day when we were in the church for the Blessing of Throats. I asked the children questions about St Blaise, why we blessed throats etc. but found myself doing most of the answering. I was wearing a little clip-on microphone with the battery pack attached to my belt. Going to the school afterwards, this same lad came running towards me and asked: “Vincent, where were you getting the answers? Was it from the black box?”
You couldn’t write it and yet I am! “It’s as far away as ever!” How many of us, in all honesty might be thinking that way, even on St Stephen’s Day? The presents have been opened, welcomed and maybe some are already on their way for return and exchange. The food has been eaten, the worst of the sweets still in the box and the second layer of the chocolates well plundered though there are still some in the top layer. The church was packed – ‘the standing room only’ that old people used to talk of – ‘if you weren’t there 20 minutes before Mass, you’d not get a seat’. The Fairytale of New York, When A Child is Born and Driving Home For Christmas are back in the radio stations’ vinyl vaults and the dreaded Christmas jumper is rolled up in a ball somewhere – maybe even headed for recycling. The Christmas tree and the candle bridge are looking tired (not least because some of them have been up since the end of November) and soon will be packed away.
On December 26, within 24 hours, could it be that it is as far away as ever?
Sadly yes, but in the reality of our Faith – no. If anything, it should be as near as ever and we should be doing all in our power to keep it so. Christmas speaks of making room for strangers so that a child might be born. It calls us to places of worship where we can gather with family, neighbour, friend and stranger and pray and sing our hearts out. It reminds us that in the uncertainties of life, home is the place to be, surrounded by people who matter and make a difference. It is about the fulfilling of a heavenly promise and the need for the human ‘yes’ found on Mary’s lips and in her heart.
It is about the very best of us in terms of generosity, not just in giving presents and time to the people we know, love and with whom we share our lives but about kindness – at its very best – when we dip into our pockets and our time and willingly give both to others who, all too sadly, are worse off. This is the time when we leave no stone unturned to do the right thing by people. It is, without doubt, the time that brings out the very best in us. As Jesus said to Martha at her brother’s tomb: “Do you believe this?”
Struggle
If we do, even if we struggle at times with our Faith, we would not want this day, this time to be as far away as ever. On the contrary, we would never want to walk away from it. Pictures captured on phones – phones, that may well be upgraded during the year – could not do justice to the masterpiece we need to frame and hang on our walls. That masterpiece – a picture of a world in a better place because people are in a better place. That is, has always been and will always be the call of Christmas. It is about people doing the right thing by one another, not just for a day or a few days but throughout the days and years of our lives.
“Vincent, where were you getting the answers? Was it from the black box?” I smile when I think of that moment but worry at times too. There are so many questions, not least around what the New Year might bring our way. Questions around our Church, our mission and our place in an ever-changing world; questions around faith, health, wellbeing and around life. The answers are there too, not always immediately obvious and needing time to reveal themselves.
They are there, not in the ‘black box’ but in staying close – very close, to Christmas and the promise and the answers found in a borrowed room.
It’s as near as ever!
***
A New Year prayer:
Heavenly Father, bless us with the spirit of St Joseph who, even in dreams, was open to your promptings and guided by your hand. As he went where you asked him to go, did what you asked him to do and remained ever faithful, so may we put our trust in you as we step across the threshold into a New Year. May his hands bless our work, may his loyalty to family be our inspiration and may his openness to your will be our constant guide. Amen.
