Gifts of the Angel
My name is Miryam. I live in Nazareth with my mother and father, but soon I will get married to Yossef, my childhood friend. Our lives are simple, and we are happy enough in our modest way. But I worry about the future. If Yossef and I have a family of our own, what life awaits our children? Our country is occupied by the Romans, who have little respect for our people and our traditions. They take away the best this land has to offer, and our people get poorer and poorer. And they say their emperor in Rome is God. How can a man be God?
The God of my people is not a man. Our God cannot be seen. Our God is not a gilded statue, nor a richly dressed ruler. But they say our God is powerful and can deliver us. I would like to believe that. I would like to help, to do my own little bit to build a better future. But what can one woman do?
An angel appears, carrying a candle.
Miryam! Take heart. Your hopes and wishes are echoed up and down the country in the hearts of many others. The desire for a better future is strong. And everyone can do their own little bit in their own little corner of the world. For you though, Miryam, God has a much greater task. You may be just one woman, young, modest, and seemingly powerless, but this task is more important than you or anyone can imagine. You will have to be brave, Miryam. Will you take on the task?
Miryam pauses for thought, then says, "I will."
The angel holds out the candle. "Then I give you the light of courage."
Miryam receives the candle with reverence.
-oOoOo-
My name is Yossef. I live in Nazareth and I am a carpenter by trade. My life was happy enough until last week. Do you want to know what happened last week? I found out that Miryam, my betrothed, is with child. Who would have believed this of a sweet, quiet girl like Miryam? I have known her all my life. It just isn't like her. And now I don't know what to do. I don't want to give her up, not really, but my parents are furious and the neighbours are talking. If I stand by her, what am I letting myself in for? I care about her, but is it worth the risk?
An angel appears, carrying a candle.
Yossef! Hear the truth from me: Miryam has not betrayed you. She cares about you just as you care about her. But there are other things afoot here, things that are hard to explain. You will have to decide, Yossef. Do you love Miryam well enough to shrug off the gossip? Or, to put it the other way round: Are the wagging tongues and sidelong glances of other people really more important than the life you want to build with Miryam? Will you take it on faith that God works through her? Will you stand by her, Yossef?
Yossef pauses for thought, then says, "I will."
The angel holds out the candle. "Then I give you the light of trust."
Yossef receives the candle with reverence.
-oOoOo-
My name is Ruben. I own one of the largest inns here in Bethlehem. Business is crazy just now; the town is packed with travellers because of the census. My house is completely full; I even have tents pitched on the roof. And now this young couple stand at my door asking for shelter, the woman pregnant, the man looking desperate. I'd like to help them, but what can I do? So many are in need of shelter here, and I am just one man. I can't help everyone, can I?
An angel appears, carrying a candle.
Ruben! I know how you feel. It all seems too much, doesn't it? But listen, you don't have to help everyone. Just these two. Look at them, they are exhausted. Yes, yes, there is another inn a mile up the road, but by the time they get there, it will be night, and what if they are turned away at the door there as well? The woman can't go much farther. The world is full of need, I know, and you cannot take on all of it, but right now, right here, there is one thing you can do. Will you find them a space somewhere, Ruben?
Ruben pauses for thought, then says, "I will."
The angel holds out the candle. "Then I give you the light of compassion."
Ruben receives the candle with reverence.
-oOoOo-
Does it matter what our names are? We know just how small we are in this vast world and how short our lives flicker in the endless stream of time. Everything we look at inspires us with awe. We are seekers. We want to know more. We want to understand all the breadth and depth and width of this world. We want to make sense of it all. We want to find the essence of all being, the beating heart of the world that gives life and meaning to everything. Will we ever find it? Does it even exist? Or are our lives in vain?
An angel appears, carrying a candle.
Caspar! Melchior! Balthazar! Your names matter, because your lives matter. And no, your search is not in vain. The very awe with which you look at the world has set you on a path to its beating heart. With minds as wide open as yours, you will not fail to find it. But your journey will be long and full of hardship and it will lead you into the unknown. You will need patience and persistence, you will need to give strength to each other and you will have to keep that flame in your hearts alive. It is no easy undertaking. Will you go?
The magi exchange looks, then say, "We will."
The angel holds out the candle. "Then I give you the light of devotion."
The magi receive the candle with reverence.
-oOoOo-
I am the King of Israel! Sounds splendid, doesn't it? But it's not as grand as it sounds. Between you and me, the Romans kind of let me be king here. The real power, you see, lies with them and I need to keep in their good books. Not that I wouldn't like to see the back of them and take power, real power for myself! Alas, I'm not in a position to challenge them.
And now this! This rumour that someone might challenge me for what little power I have. A new king born in Israel? I am the king! None shall supplant me! I will find this new king and I will –
An angel appears, carrying a candle.
Herod! You are going down a dark path. Is that how you serve your God, with murder in your heart? The King of Israel is not supposed to be like the kings of this world. The King of Israel is meant to do the work of God. He is a servant, not a master. You, Herod, have forgotten your true calling. Having a little power has awoken in you a thirst for greater and even greater power. But to what end, Herod? Power, unless it's used with prudence and humility, will lead you to evil. It is not yet too late to turn away from that path. Will you let go of your greed for power, Herod?
Herod sneers. "Why should I?"
The angel holds out the candle. "See, I offer you the light of wisdom."
With a gesture of aggression, Herod snuffs out the candle and storms off.
-oOoOo-
My name is Shimon, and these are my friends, Asher, Davvid and Dan. We guard sheep here in the hills. It gets cold at night. People think of us as outsiders. Maybe we are. I can tell you this, though, when you live away from the bustle of the towns and look up at the stars every night, your heart opens up. It changes you if you get to see the beauty of the night sky or the miracle of a new-born lamb. We often talk, me and my friends, about the deep things of life. We talk about God. Not that any of us has much learning, but we know enough. We have heard of the promises God has made to his people. An end to violence. A full life for all. They say one day the Messiah will come and bring us God's future. Oh, how I would love to see that! I don't think it will happen in my lifetime. But I can dream…
An angel appears, carrying a candle.
Shimon! You do not need to dream. God's future is here, now. It may not look the way you expect it, but it is true and it is real. Take your eyes off the stars and turn them to the Earth. A child was born this night in a stable in Bethlehem. Go there and see for yourself the future God gifts to his people. Leave all behind and take a leap forward. Will you go?
The shepherds exchange looks, then say, "We will."
The angel holds out the candle. "Then I give you the light of faith."
The shepherds receive the candle with reverence.
-oOoOo-
Jesus steps forward, holding a larger candle.
They found me, all those years ago. Miryam, Yossef, Shimon, Ruben, Dan and Melchior and Caspar and Davvid and Asher and Balthazar, they all found me. They came together in the place where the greatest light of all shone: the love of God. None of them was unchanged by it.
Today I tell you: It is all still true. There are angels around you, offering you the lights of courage, of trust, of compassion, of devotion, of faith. If they offer you the light of wisdom, then listen well, even if it hurts. Most of all, though, the love of God is with you here, now. Let it light up your hearts and be assured that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation can separate you from this love, which I have brought into this world, once and for all.
