CHRISTMAS

THEME: CHRISTMAS MEANS MAKING SPACE – AND A TIME FOR GIVING GIFTS

A: This story goes back to 1953 when Fr. Rene was sent to Jackfish Creek. It was the home of 175 Dene( Pronounced: Denny) Indians who lived on the bank that overlooked the river for miles upstream and downstream.

Among them was John who was a famous artist. And so in early November as Fr. Rene was visiting and drinking tea with John, he asked he artist whether he would draw the Christmas story. But it has to be as if Christmas happened here at Jackfish Creek.

John replied, " Oh yes. No problem. How would I see Christmas as a Dene Indian ? Well, there would be no donkey and here we could not have a manger. But let us see, Joseph and Mary would travel in a toboggan drawn by four dogs. They would go by Old Baldy which was a barren hill north of the village.'

The artist kept on making an imaginary sketch with his fingers on the table. " They would ask here and there where they could stay. But there was so room. so they would cross the little creek and pitch their tent on the opposite side. And there Jesus would be born. I would draw the houses here, the creek, the river and Joseph and Mary's tent up there."

A week later, Fr. Rene met John. "Have you been thinking about the picture ? " John: " Oh yes Father, a lot. "

End of November: Fr. Rene to John " Any news about the drawing John ? " John, as an Indian with few words " Yes, I'll do it. " This dialogue went on several times.

It was two days before Christmas. "John, will you be able to get the drawing done in time ?" His voice dragged, he was hesitant. " Yes, maybe I will. yes, I think so."

"John you do not feel like doing so, do you." Relief spread over John's face. " Well, no, not really, you see that drawing does not make any sense at all. You see, Father, if Mary and Joseph had crossed our village, they could have walked into any house and we would have taken them into our homes. No questions asked. "

B: You see if there was no place for Joseph and Mary, we would cease to be Dene Indians.

We would loose our identity,

We would loose our culture

We would loose our way of life.

Because we welcome and respect our fellow men and women, our animals, our mother earth. And who best represents this than a woman, a pregnant women. there would nothing on earth that would stop us from Welcoming Mary into our tents.

Not to welcome Mary and Joseph, we might as well pack our tents and move into the Big Cities, into the Concrete Jungle. The only way we can express Christmas is SPACE FOR GOD. He has given us plenty and we have plenty to give in return.

C: Without realising it, John the Dene Indian was putting into words that we can understand in this day and age, the words of St. John's Gospel, the first Chapter. He came unto his own and his own received him not. But as many as received him, Jesus gave them the power of becoming children of God. Truly, if we do not have space for the Child in Bethlehem, then we too should pick up our tents and move into the Concrete Jungle.

Now there is nothing bad in the world around us. The Concrete Jungle is not evil. It just has a different set of rules. The main rule is < the fittest will survive >. And so in this world, where the chief value is the Almighty Dollar - and the American dollar at that since our Canadian dollar has been devalued - there is no SPACE for the unborn, the disabled, the old.

In a world in which < Power and Money > speak, there is no SPACE for the poor, for the artist, for the poet and the singer. There is no SPACE for the unproductive child or adult.

D: It is easy to say this quite difficult to put it into practice. While I was writing this a few days ago, a man full of hot air, so full of himself, in a word so unproductive - came to interrupt these words of wisdom. In my mind I kept on saying why don't you blow away and I can get on with my work. Suddenly, I realised, I did not have SPACE for this person. And if like the Denny Indian I could not make SPACE for everyone - I probably did not have SPACE for my God.

Making SPACE for God, for Jesus - this was all that was asked from the Innkeeper. But he had no room for them. He was living in the concrete Jungle - and he did not as a result hear the most beautiful tune of all < O HOLY NIGHT. > He was gathering his shekels and counting them into the night - and his money and his name has faded into history

E. Making SPACE is what we are celebrating today - even in this packed Church. We welcome you as the Dene Indians would welcome Jesus. Some of you have come from far away to visit your families who are parishioners here. Some of you have been busy keeping body and soul together all through the year and so you haven't had time to see us celebrate together. To all of you welcome - there is always room for you in this Ark of the Lord, in our tent of Our Lady of Lourdes

F: Today is also the time for gift giving. We have spent so much time and care in choosing and buying gifts for our loved one and those who have done so much for us during the year. Your gift giving says I love you and that is also what we are celebrating today. It is the giving of not just presents, but of our love, our caring, our thoughtfulness - but most of all the gift of ourselves. We are only reflecting God.

G: As we reflect on this suddenly our concrete jungle has lost some of its coldness, it has move life and warmth - the Love of Jesus through each one of us - is gradually taking on the life and vitality of God Himself. Gradually, our ears pick up the sounds of Angels who sing "Glory to God on High and Peace to all of good will. " And I would like to wish you and each one in your family the same wish: with my love and the love of all those who live here at Our Lady of Lourdes

This is the irrational season

When love blooms bright and wild

Had Mary been filled with reason,

There'd have been no room for a child