Holyday Celebration

“Beware the barrenness of a busy life.” ~Socrates, Greek philosopher (BC 469–399)

Mary Elizabeth was the first to notice. It was hard not to. The glowing form was unmistakable. The question was what to do about it. She knew the Associate, Father John, was probably in the confessional. Arriving at the “large black box,” she knocked quietly, but insistently. “Father John, Father John!” she said in an escalating stage whisper. “Come quickly!”

Father John, a gaunt, young priest in wire-rimmed glasses appeared at the door of the confessional. “What is it, Mary Elizabeth? I was doing my morning prayer.” “Come quickly!” she said again. “You have to see this.”

Father John followed Mary Elizabeth across the narthex and into the sanctuary. “Look!” she exclaimed, pointing at the center aisle. As he stared at the sight before him, Father John’s eyes widened. There before him, moving slowly down the long center aisle of St. Bartholomew’s, was the glowing form of a person, its arms were outstretched, palms up. It only took a moment for Father John to recognize the figure of Christ.

Mary Elizabeth was shaking his arm. “What do we do, Father?” Father John took a last quick look and, leaving Mary Elizabeth behind, turned and bolted out the side door of the church into the parking lot. He was headed for the Rectory and the pastor’s office.  

Father Matthew was seated quietly at his desk, reading the morning paper when Father John burst into his office. Father Matthew looked up at him over the top of his glasses. “Aren’t you suppose to be hearing confessions right now?” he asked, looking back at his paper.

“You are not going to believe this!” Father John blurted out. “Oh, not much surprises me anymore,” replied Father Matthew calmly, still looking at his paper. “Well this just might,” retorted an exasperated Father John.

He quickly recounted his story to the Pastor. Father Matthew’s only response was, “Are you sure?” Father John finished with a flourish, “Father Matthew, Jesus Christ himself is walking down the center aisle of our church. WHAT DO WE DO?”

Father Mathew jumped to his feet, dropping his paper and losing his glasses in the process. “Go to your office, Father John!” “What?” Father John asked. “I said go to your office. Undoubtedly, after Jesus finishes in the church he will come here.” “And when he does make sure of one thing and one thing only…”

Father Matthew paused for a moment at if to emphasize the gravity of his words: “LOOK BUSY!”

Our modern society has come to equate “busyness” with value. If I am busy doing something, I must be of value. This false sense of worth has been exacerbated by the recent employment crisis in our country. If I’m working (busy), I am of value. Father Matthew wanted to look busy for the Lord. To show there was merit in his being in the position he was in, that he was worthy or deserving.

What he failed to realize was that God loves us without qualification, whether we are extremely busy or at rest.  We are all truly equal in God’s eyes.

During the Christmas Season, we prepare for the “Second Coming” by celebrating the first. Unfortunately, we often find ourselves so busy “doing Christmas” that we neglect to actually celebrate it.  In modern times, “celebrate” has come to mean, to “party,” often to the point of inebriation. It is easy to forget that the celebration of a religious holiday, Christian or otherwise, is, in and of itself a preparation.

As good stewards of our time on earth, we are called to take time to celebrate. Celebration literally means “to observe with ceremonies of respect, festivity, or rejoicing.” Celebrating Christmas (or Easter or Passover) is not so much the event itself (the holiday), but the preparation for the bigger event – the coming of the Messiah.

This year, take some time to make “the holiday” a Holy Day.

 Dear God: May I never be too busy to spend time with you.

“It is not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The questions is: What are we busy about?” ~Henry David Thoreau, American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, and leading transcendentalist (1817–1862)

©2012 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.
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