Chapter 9 – Father Mulcahy: Mary Did You Know

The stinging snowflakes flew furiously at Sidney as he pressed through the ferocious winds. There was a moment or two when the major swore he would be knocked onto his keister if he wasn't careful. Finally gaining upon the main surgical building, he pushed the door open and gratefully accepted the shelter the flimsy structure offered.

"Hawkeye! BJ!" he hailed in hopes of finding the two surgeons who reportedly needed a friend and listening ear.

"Sidney?" Father John Francis Patrick Mulcahy emerged from the office where he had been sitting and reflecting on the wonders of Christmas, smudges of fudge on two fingernails and the right-hand corner of his mouth. "I'm afraid they're not here right now. They seemed to be so despondent after we lost our patient tonight, and I suggested they get some dinner while I promised to stay here to keep an eye on things until they return."

Upon hearing of the surgeons' present emotional state, Sidney's eyes darkened, and his mouth turned downward into a concerned frown.

"Margaret just told me that they lost a patient tonight."

"They did everything they could for him; they just couldn't bear to have him die on Christmas. It's such a sacred holiday … one that symbolizes a very special birth and hope, not the end of life in a land thousands of miles from home. On this day, we should be remembering the Christ child's birth and all the joy that comes with it; I have often wondered if Mary, herself, had known that her baby boy was God in human form? Did she realize that she was cradling God with the skin on?"

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know, that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Realizing he was speaking to a man who didn't observe the Christmas holiday, the soft spoken chaplain flushed a bashful, rosy pink.

"Forgive me, Sidney; I should have remembered that you don't necessarily share the same beliefs as I do as far as Christmas goes."

"That's all right, Father. I deeply respect that, and I don't have to agree with your beliefs to understand what they mean to you. IN fact, I look on it as an education and a way to get to know my friends a little better." The shrink smiled, his turtle brown eyes twinkling as brightly as the star of Bethlehem had done centuries ago.

"Such a powerful and glorious being coming to us in the form of a baby born in a stable … It just takes my breath away. One day He's a sleeping babe, whose only concern is if His parents will feed Him and keep Him safe; then just a few short years later, He's teaching about the kingdom of Heaven, healing people with various disabilities, and preparing for the ultimate sacrifice He will make on all our behalves. The concept of Him coming down from Heaven to live as a man for us is so awesome; you can't possibly wrap your head around it. To this day, I am in total and complete awe over the power His birth has over the nations of the world."

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know, that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby, you've kissed the face of God.

As Father Mulcahy heaved a sigh, Sidney arched his eyebrows in confusion; he knew Jesus Christ was a Jewish man, but he was never taught that the wise and wonderful teacher was the Messiah.

"Father, I mean no disrespect when I say this, but I'm afraid you've lost me."

"I'm terribly sorry, Sidney. Catholics and Protestants believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the one who truly is God, the one capable of opening the eyes of the blind, unplugging the ears of the deaf, restoring speech to the mute, raising the lame to their feet, and even restoring life of the dead."

"Father, I understand that part; I grew up surrounded by Christian friends and learned all about their beliefs. The part I'm having trouble understanding is why you said that Jesus' birth had power over the nations of the world. What did you mean?"

The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

"Oh, Sidney, surely you've heard of the Christmas Truce of 1914. It took place during the First World War in Ypres, Belgium when the German troops began to decorate the areas around their trenches. They sang Christmas Carols and adorned the surrounding trees with candles. They sang 'Stille Nacht', the German version of Silent night when the Scottish troops began to sing carols as well. Soon both sides were shouting Christmas greetings to one another across the battlefield. Then they ventured into the neutral territory to exchange gifts of whisky, jam, cigars, and chocolate. The artillery remained silent through the night and the ceasefire lasted for anywhere from a day to an entire week. During this lull, both sides were allowed to retrieve their fallen men for proper burial." The priest's eyes filled with hot tears of sentiment, and he dabbed at the salty beads before slipping his spectacles back on. "The 23rd Psalm was read as both sides paid their respects to each other's fallen soldiers, and they acted as fellow men, not as enemies. Sidney, the remembrance of Jesus' birth literally stopped a war for a brief time, something no other birthday could ever do; and that knowledge will go with me to my grave," he choked out his words, resisting the urge to break down into quiet sobs of joy.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know, that your baby boy is heaven's perfect lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding, is the great I AM.

Sidney reached up and brushed a single tear from his right eye, gulping down the lump that formed in his throat. Although he was unable to wrap his head around Jesus' true majesty, he could appreciate what it must have meant to the kindly priest. Passing a tissue to his companion, he felt led to ask,

"Are you all right, Father?"

"Oh, yes, I'm fine, Sidney," Father Mulcahy answered with a slight quiver in his voice. "These are just tears of absolute joy. However, I do believe that Hawkeye and BJ will need you more badly than I do. I think they may still be in the mess tent having a late night meal."

"You're sure you're all right?"

"I'll feel better knowing that you're there to give them some comfort. Nobody should be alone on Christmas."

"I'll go check on them now," the shrink promised, slapping the clergyman on the back and passing him an assuring smile before he bundled up and ventured out once more into the driving snow.