We’ve been blessed the last few weeks to have a couple of pieces of art on display in our parish hall. Both are by our member Paul O’Neill. One is a working model of the mural he painted on our Thrift Shop’s eastern wall. The other is an arresting image of Mary holding baby Jesus. If you have not seen these paintings in the parish hall and the Thrift Shop mural, you should.

I described the Mary and Jesus painting as arresting because every time I walk into or through the parish hall, it arrests me. Often that’s as I walk in from our office wing. It’s just on the edge of my peripheral vision and makes me think someone is there. When I’m coming straight at it, it pops out and dominates the view. And I find that its beauty and depth change with the light. It’s quite different in very low light, but you have to be here pretty early or pretty late to see that.

Its iconic style captures the intimacy of Mary’s love for Jesus and reflects the intimacy of his love for her. That is at the heart of the Christmas story. It is at the heart of our pageant. It is at the heart of our Christmas hymns. It is at the heart of God’s desire to draw us into the most intimate of relationships with him through Jesus.

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You made it! It’s Christmas Eve. Everything that will be done is done. If it isn’t done, it won’t be done - unless you still have gifts to wrap or items like bikes or toys that require assembly. Either way, there is joy and peace to be had now. Breathe. Relax.

We all have a lot going on this time of year, of course. There are decorations, lights, and trees. Some plan ahead and buy Christmas presents all year. Others are more like me. I began shopping on Friday. There are decorations and lights to set up, food to buy and other preparations for family and friends. Baking cookies.

There are gifts to give to churches and other charities before year end, and service to those in need.

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It’s 3AM.  The phone rings.  It’s the red phone, the crisis phone.  No, wait, it’s the Bat phone.  You pick up the phone, but it’s not a phone at all.  They are bells – church bells – and you’re late. And your shirt is twisted or something. You cannot get your arm through the sleeve and everyone is waiting.

Only you’re not late, you’re asleep.  You’re dreaming, just dreaming. You wake up with a mix of your chest pounding and relief. Then you laugh inside. The anxiety of your dream was just your brain sorting out a mix of experiences and emotions. Maybe you check to make sure your alarm is set, but you don’t get up to make sure your shirts aren’t twisted.

I hope you identified with my nightmare because you have had a similar experience. Let’s keep that in mind as we remember Joseph’s vital role with Jesus coming into the world.

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