Daily Reflection Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of th

At first blush, it was hard not to wince as we heard the news. “Oh, no. Not at Christmas!” Our parish found itself whiplashed as we bookended all the glorious joy of the birth of our Savior with the news of the death of two spiritual giants in our community. Bob’s funeral was celebrated on Monday the 23rd. Bob – 87 years of love, service, and faith, with liturgical, pastoral, and leadership roles in our parish beyond measure. Chet, funeral on the 28th, whose 99 year journey took him from a young soldier at Omaha Beach to a still active member in our choir. (He took a piano lesson the last week of his life!) At each funeral, the eulogy and homily tributes focused not on titles, resumes, or achievements, but the legacy, the testimony, of a life well lived, a life of faith. It was so easy and comforting to claim for the beloved deceased the promise of eternal life, a promise now fulfilled.

 

In our Gospel passage today, John the Baptist faces a challenge of title and testimony. No, he protests, he is not the Christ. He is not Elijah. He is not one of the Prophets of old. His mission: to prepare, by his testimony, the way for the One who is to come. It will be a noble task, a commission that will lead to his own ignominious death. Throughout the ages, he will be given all tribute and testimony that a title never could.

 

And add to the litany of Christmas testimony the death of Jimmy Carter this week. Even as his four years with the title “President of the United States” is being assessed with new appreciation, it is his four decades of service to the greater good of the world community that has prompted the more fulsome accolades. “Hundreds of millions of people around the globe are living better lives because of his relentless efforts to overcome violence and disease,” wrote one essayist. Testimony indeed. 

 

Perhaps the Christmas season deaths of these men – two local heroes, another whose years of service and sacrifice were played out on the international scene – are an expression of God’s correct and perfect timing after all. I am reminded of an insight from theologian and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer that was included in an Advent reflection in my inbox this season. “Who among us will celebrate Christmas correctly?” he asked. “Whoever finally lays down all power, all reputation, all vanity, all arrogance, and all individualism beside the manger; whoever remains lowly and lets God alone be high; whoever looks at the child in the manger and sees the glory of God precisely in his lowliness.”

 

Celebrating Christmas correctly… fodder for our New Year’s resolutions and the testimony that they may bring.