Come Again? Chapter Two.

"Come Again? Chapter One." 

"I was going to re-use last night's sermon." Timothy began, "and I'm sure there is a joke in there somewhere about 'second helpings'."

His congregation was somewhat smaller than that of the previous evening, and Mrs. Blusher had quietly informed him that twenty wafers should be more than sufficient. They were however a good representation of his faithful, and they made polite sounds of amusement as was appropriate.

"However, I would like to go completely off script and share something I have been thinking about a lot this morning."

He paused and let his gaze roam over the expectant faces. He tried really hard not to let slip any of the emotion he felt, nor his shock. Every single person present was surrounded by a subtle but unmistakable glow. The colours varied, but predominantly they were shot through with gold. Timothy swallowed, because he could not only see the gold, he could in some undefinable way feel their goodness. He looked at Mrs. Blusher and his knees almost gave way as the full force of her beautiful faith in the Lord washed through him.

"A little Christmas present Timothy." He heard Sophia's voice as his back straightened and his nascent trembling was nipped in the bud.

Gathering himself quickly he continued.

"'No room at the inn'. I'm sure some of you will have seen Nativity plays this year, despite our own sad lack of younger members. You will recall that 'No room at the inn' is an important element of the story of our Lord's birth in a manger in a humble stable. It illustrated that though he was to be the King of Heaven, Our Lord was not some remote privileged prince, but could and would identify with the poor and the needy.

For a moment I would like you to think about the inn keeper who took pity on the young couple, the heavily pregnant Mary, and her no doubt anxious and nervous husband Joseph. Circumstances were such with the census being due, that all the inns in Bethlehem were very full. But the inn keeper could not turn the couple away into the night. He invited them to use his stable, which would offer shelter from the elements and warmth at least.

I have been wondering what Christ would have thought of our present world. There is so much wrong with it. What would he make of us? Those who profess to love and serve him?"

Timothy paused and looked again at the people perched in the pews before him.

"I suspect that in his mercy, he would judge us kindly."

Then he noticed that on the back pew nearest the door sat a young man dressed in a faded green parka. The man radiated anxiety, need and fear. Timothy smiled at him, and the youth nervously nodded acknowledgement.

"But that does not mean we should become complacent in doing the Lord's work. There is a passage in Matthew 25."

He took his bible and opened it, then read in a clear voice the passages relating to how the Son of Man would divide the people, laying emphasis on the criteria that would be used.

"These instructions could not be clearer. We are to help those who need our help, and I should like to say, that this help should not be conditional. Just the other day I was present when a woman expressed the opinion that because a homeless person was smoking a cigarette, they should not be given free food. This sort of opinion is used by a lot of people to explain why they don't 'do' charity.

'Oh he can afford to smoke, so he can afford to buy food.'

'She does drugs, she doesn't deserve charity.'

'They'll only spend it on drink or drugs.'

As though somehow, a person has to have nothing, nothing at all, to be deserving of our charity. People are homeless for many reasons, and sadly drug abuse is one of the possibilities. I should like to make clear though, we are not called to judge these people. We are however told explicitly that we should help them.

So on this most wonderful of mornings, when we celebrate the birth of Our Lord, I should like to urge you to remember why he was born, and what He taught us we need to do in order to serve Him.

I will conclude by wishing you all a very Happy Christmas, and as I finish every year, with a borrowed phrase from Tiny Tim,"

There was the traditional titter of laughter from the congregation.

"God bless us, every one."