Grace reading from the Great Prophet, Isaiah.
Readings:
Isaiah 9, 1-6, The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shown. (Wow! Beautiful)
Psalm, 96, Today is born our savior, Christ the Lord.
Reading 2: The Road Less Taken
Luke 2, 1-14, The Nativity story. (Lovely)
John reading The Road not Taken, one of The Greats.
Frost, Robert: The Road Not Taken ( Reading #2)
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler. Long I stood
and looked down one as far as I could,
to where it bent in the undergrowth,
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear.
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
But knowing how way leads onto way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Claire reading the Nativity Narrative from Luke.
Homily, 12/24/18
Since November when this crazy lumbar stenosis smacked me, I have had more doctor appointments than ever in my life, including getting my two nice titanium hips.
On one occasion I was going to Presby’s office building 4, on the south east corner of Walnut Hill & Greenville. This was my second visit to this building. Parking is all on the ground level, with the 5 or 6 story building over the parking.
The Nativity story with Leo as Joseph and Zoe as Mary.
This morning Rosemary drove me over, dropped me fairly near the big glass doors, two sets of them. It is freezing, darkish, and windy like being in a wind tunnel.
As I approach the first set of doors, though still 30 yards away, this tall, strong looking black lady in a security uniform comes running from the inside, opens one of the doors wide and says cheerily, Good Morning and Welcome In.
Who dat?? That is the Baby Jesus, otherwise known as Betsy!
I laugh despite being in a world of pain from the pinched nerve. I thank her. And as I pass in front of her at the door, I tell her, “I am finding it hard to have people opening doors for me. I ain’t used to this.”
So I go upstairs, check with my doctor, and return to the lobby in maybe an hour. I sit on a marble ledge, call Rosemary, and wait.
Sez Luke, "Hey, I'm an Angel!
Suddenly coming in through the doors from the outside, my black security lady appears. I wave at her and she walks toward me. She says, “You remember what you said to me that it is hard to let others hold the door for you. Well, I look at you and I know you. I know that you have opened a lot of doors for other people to walk through. For me it is an honor to be able to pay it back just a little and hold the door for you.”
Does it get better than this ??!!
I was stunned, I was touched, I was in tears.
Are people not good!
Have a wonderful Christmas.
The Best Team!