I usually write something
about being an author and ways to sell the books we write. Today I would like to send all who read this
blog the full Christmas message from “Brimstone and Water.”
As we face the tragedy of
the families that will not celebrate this year I hope on Christmas Day
we remember the true reason we celebrate.
EXHERPT FROM
BRIMSTONE AND WATER/UNEDITED VERSION
The
final verse of the choral anthem ended after the reading of the Gospel and
everyone prepared for Fr. Cragan to come to the lectern and give his Christmas
homily. A small gasp was heard when Adam
rose, stepped away from the altar and came down the
steps to be among the congregation before he spoke.
“Tonight
is the Eve of our Lord,” he began, “the start of new hope, of new faith, of new
beginnings. We all know the story; we’ve
known it since childhood. But do we feel
it; do we live it in our daily life?
It’s a hard question, and one I ask myself often. Mary
had a baby,” he whispered, “and heaven and earth rejoiced,” he cried
out with increasing volume, raising his hands toward the sky.
“The
Wise Men knew, the shepherds knew by the angel’s call and followed His star to
Bethlehem. They took the journey in
faith, responding to the vision; the call from God to honor this little child,
this Jesus born to a middle aged Jewish carpenter and his young wife. How could they know that something
spectacular had happened? Yes, how could
they know,” he slowly said stroking his chin in contemplation. “Most of us would never believe an angel
stood beside us and told us to take a journey on faith. We’d probably think we were losing our minds
and try to find a psychiatrist to put us on an anti-hallucinogenic to keep the
vision at bay.”
“But
these men, these Wise Men, the Magi of kingdoms in distant lands came together
and shared the revelation each had heard that a King was to be born to Israel,
a Savior was coming to the chosen people.
They followed the star in faith indicated by the angel that came to them
long before the birth until it brought them to Bethlehem. It was nothing like today’s journey unto
Christ with the Holy Spirit to guide us along the way. This journey was far different than the
freedoms we take for granted to worship in peace.”
“Think
of the hazards they faced in those ancient days. They traveled through many lands at a time
when Romans ruled with an iron fist and travelers were ambushed for a single
coin. And they carried precious rare
gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh, worth large sums of money. Their families must have been very concerned,
but still they made the journey. They
never doubted what the angel told them and trusted in God to give them safe
haven along the way.”
“What
must Joseph and Mary thought when these three magnificent strangers arrived and
offered their gifts. They were men of
importance kneeling beside poor sheep herders before a carpenter and a young
mother with a newborn child held close to her breast among the smells of oxen and
sheep. Yet they knew something greater
than anything on earth had happened, and it was embodied in this one helpless
child. So they gave the only gifts they
knew how to give in gratitude for the gift of love that was given that night in
a lowly stable where Jesus slept in a manger.”
“And
after they had paid homage to the child and his mother and father, they risked
their lives again to defy Harrod, ruler of Judea. They did not return to his palace and tell
where Jesus lay as he had told them to do during their visit of respect to the
ruler of this kingdom. The angel
appeared to them again and warned that Harrod had evil in his heart and would
destroy the baby Jesus, the Messiah to all the nations. They took another route and quietly left for
their own countries with the knowledge that they had been allowed to honor the
babe that was to save the tribes of Israel
“When
morning dawns later today we will exchange the gifts of Christmas with friends
and loved ones. Many will be forgotten
before the first blossom announces the arrival of another spring and the gift
of sacrifice the child we celebrate tonight gave for us all on that first Good
Friday. Others will be remembered for a
lifetime because they are given in love with a deep meaning to the giver and
receiver. But when morning dawns on this
special day, before the first gift is unwrapped, I ask you to stop and reflect
for a moment about the Wise Men and why they gave their gifts, gifts to a
newborn child, a child named Jesus. Mary had a baby,” he softly said, “and
heaven and earth rejoiced.”
I wish all a Merry Christmas and
Happy and Prosperous New Year.
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