CHRISTMAS I
December 26, 2021
“Good News to All the People”“And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10)
One of my favorite Christmas stories is, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”, a short book by Barbara Robinson, copyrighted in 1972. It’s a reminiscence by the author of a Christmas in her home town when she was about 11 or 12 years old, and features the Herdmans, a family of six absolutely dreadful children. Their father is absent and their mother is completely worn out working in a factory, just trying to pay the rent and put food on the table. So the kids run wild all over town, where they steal, get in fights, set fires, and not only terrorize the rest of the children, they make the adults pretty uneasy, too. With that kind of reputation, they’re able to get away with all kinds of bad behavior by the mere suggestion of the awful things can happen to anyone who gets in their way.
Then, as something of a prank, a boy who attends the local church tells them that cake and cookies are served at Sunday School, so they come slouching in, looking for treats, and hanging around, unnerving both children and teachers. When the Christmas pageant plans are announced, they decide to participate, eventually getting the lead parts by being so intimidating that no one else even tries out. Not surprisingly, rehearsals take on a very different tone from previous Christmases.
As they hear the familiar (to most of us) story for the first time, the Herdmans start quizzing the teachers — why didn’t anyone give Mary and Joseph a nice place to stay? Why didn’t the Three Kings bring presents a baby could use? Why didn’t somebody do something about that evil King Herod who wanted to hurt the baby Jesus? These aren’t questions that typically arise at Christmas program practice. But the story of the First Christmas is brand new to this rough little family, and they have a completely different take on it. Isn’t it interesting that children who were ill-cared for, both at home and in their community, were so focused on caring for and protecting the infant Jesus?
At the performance, Imogene, playing Mary, was looking confused and uneasy, but she also appeared ready to protect her baby at all costs. Somehow the program stumbled along, and as it drew to a close, Gladys, playing the Angel of the Lord, with dirty sneakers and uncombed hair, enters and yells at the shepherds, “Hey! Unto you a child is born!” And everyone sat up and took notice. During the social hour that followed, there was general agreement that this had certainly been like no other Christmas pageant.
So whether someone is hearing the Christmas story for the first time or the 75th, every one of us needs and longs to hear once again the good news of a great joy to ALL the people. That means not just those who by worldly standards are smart, handsome, and successful, but also to the lost, the lonely, the sinners, and the failures. That means no one is left out, no one is excluded, and not only do we hear this glorious news, we get to share it!
Joy to the world! The Lord is come!
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers