The other day at work a client came to see me and I was immediately at a disadvantage. She knew me, even seemed to be very familiar with me. After a few minutes I had to admit to the client, I do not recognize you. She laughed and explained to me that since we last visited, she had lost 100 pounds. No wonder I did not recognize her.
We all have been placed in positions where we fail to recognize people. High school reunions and long lost relatives that we may see at a special gathering call this to mind.
Recognition is the focus of two long time Christmas specials I’ve enjoyed since childhood. In the animated feature Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, from the mid sixties, we are treated to the characters from the island of misfit toys. This was a place for broken or mismatched toys to be simply discarded. Rudolph arranges for Santa to rescue these toys and distribute them to children who may not have anything. The storyline was a way to say to all of us that we should recognize value in love and friendship and kindness. Then you have the Charlie Brown Christmas cartoon where the kids no longer recognize the real meaning of Christmas until Linus takes the stage and tells Charlie Brown the true meaning of Christmas; right from the pages of the second chapter of St. Luke.
As people of faith, do we recognize the true meaning of the coming of Christ as the Babe of Bethlehem? Do we recognize Mary’s role in brining forth our Savior? And how are we preparing for the coming of Christ in our lives?
The Gospel reading today gives us two women as the main players in the beautiful story of the Visitation. Mary, just informed of her role to bring forth Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit, obediently takes off to visit her elderly cousin Elizabeth, pregnant with John the Baptist. Mary, just a child of perhaps 14 years of age, recognizes that all that has been told to her is truly of God. Her journey was difficult. The distance is about 60 miles, on foot or riding a donkey. The land has elevation and difficult weather. Yet she goes in haste. What happens upon her arrival? Elizabeth recognizes her young cousin Mary but more importantly, recognizes her special role as Mother of God. Her exclamation, “how does this happen to me, that the mother of MY LORD should come to me?” And what about recognition; John the Baptist, in the womb of his mother, hears Mary’s greeting and leaps for joy.
These beautiful examples of recognition that we hear on this last Sunday of Advent teach us all about being prepared for Christ, coming into our lives. Sometimes Christ is brought to us by others. Sometimes He comes to us in the seemingly smallest of ways. In any event, Christ is always coming to us. As we approach this Christmas, can we say confidently, yes, I recognize Him? He always comes to us in Word and Sacrament. He most gloriously comes in the Eucharist. And He comes to us in the Saints and our brothers and sisters. He came to us today in those beautiful children who we distributed toys and gifts to. He comes to us in the homeless man that lives down the way or the elderly neighbor who needs a visit. And yes, He comes to us in the prison inmate who needs a chance at redemption. Do we recognize Him?
And one more lesson, be prepared. Some times we prepare well, other times we fail to prepare adequately. And sometimes our preparation comes from life’s unexpected events that we all must deal with. Just this past Friday night, my daughter was robbed at gunpoint. She’s o.k. but suffered the trials and tribulations associated with such a frightening event. My wife and I went to her aid quickly, in haste you might say. We are thankful that she is well. And yes, I’ll keep a closer eye on her this week. Be prepared, even for that which we can never fully prepare for.
Preparing to recognize Christ this Christmas is a much more joyful task. Like Mary and Elizabeth, we need to invite the Holy Spirit into our lives to help us understand the relationship we are called to have with Christ, the newborn King! Prepare worthily in the week ahead. A sincere confession before the Christmas celebration is a beautiful thing. Extra times are available this week for the sacrament. Reconcile with someone this week. Go ahead, do this before Christmas Day. I know this is not easy. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you. And persevere in prayer, not just commemorating the coming of Jesus at Christmas, but His coming to us in so many ways. Ask Mary to pray with you and thank her for her “yes”. Give thanks! Be prepared to recognize Him!
Find a copy this week of Rudolph and Charlie Brown and watch these scenes of recognition. See the humanity in the characters from the island of misfit toys and the beauty and simplicity of the message about Christmas from a cartoon character. Recognize the Christ who comes to save us and bring us joy.
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