Working in the Parish Center yesterday, I saw an elderly grandmother arrive bearing the gift of shrimp for the priests. Her son came with her, to carry the shrimp and to interpret for the priest, as his mother spoke only Vietnamese. The family, generation after generation, were shrimpers, and they brought gifts from the work of their hands and the labor of their backs.
The joy on her face was palpable; the beauty of her joy was unmistakable---she needed no English to convey her meaning. It seemed to me that she was bringing her gift to Jesus Himself in the manger, with Mary and Joseph at His side. The scene was more alive and more real than a Christmas pageant---
Peace on the earth to men of good will; Peace on the earth; good will toward men---
Either reading conveys what just happened in this one microcosm on earth. Her face shone with peace and good will. I once saw a photograph of a very elderly lady --in her late 80's or early 90's--whose face was radiant with joy. The caption was If you want to steal my joy, come and get it in the hands of God.
It seems that only the very pure, the very simple---the shepherds and the shrimpers--come to the crib to worship. But kings/astrologers/ wise men came too, bearing gifts. This one simple Vietnamese woman combined in her person both shepherd and wise man; I am quite sure the kingdom of heaven has been given to such as these, and that they possess it even now.
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