For many years in the church I grew up in, we would build/perform a simulation/reenactment of the first advent. The plot should have be no surprise to anyone here.
A group of humble shepherds gets startled by a chorus of angles who prompt them to seek a new born in the land of David’s descendants. A collection of intellectual elites notice changes in the heavens that inspire them to search abroad for a new born king.
Elsewhere [and not in the play] a teenage virgin is visited by an angle. She accepts the task to give birth to a child and name in Emmanuel. The pregnant girl and her husband must return to the land of their ancestors to take part in a census.
The church of today [played by the audience] is called to walk this advent journey towards the new revelation of God.
Soon all our advent journeys intertwine and [spoiler] after many obstacles we arrive in a manger gathered around a newborn [he’s not always silent] child.
In the final scene someone from our church [often my father] would lead a very short prayer and reflection. I guesstimate I have performed that play at least a half a dozen times on four separate Advents. But no matter how familiar with the story I became that last part always left me a little awestruck.
On the first Christmas a virgin, a father, some shepherds and a few kings gathered for the first time in the presence of our savior. They were drawn through many obstacles by a powerful holy presence. But even once they arrived they had no way of knowing the full effect this child would have on human history. They could only be awestruck.
On the 2012th Christmas [give or take] the church is gathers around our savior. Our savior has called us on a advent journey over many obstacles. But still there is no one among us who can fully comprehend the full impact of this mystery on all of human life. My challenge to you is to be awestruck!
God has just begun to reveal his greatest miracle. There is nothing we have done to earn it and no way we will ever completely understand it. So all we can do on Christmas is sit back and celebrate it. Marry Christmas from me and everyone at the Austin Catholic New Media.
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