Among our guests yesterday, the night before Christmas Eve, was also a precious mother and grandmother, a devoted Catholic, doomed as ALS stricken with no power of speech, but fortunately still able to understand my speech as I strongly felt called upon to give her and all of us a living word from God.

I said to her, "You are sick, and so am I, though a local, catholic doctor, advised me, "Do live as if you are fit and well!" - "We are both getting old, but I like to share with you and your loved ones in this room how an old man, called Simeon, faced the eternity in peace. It had to do with Jesus when He was only a baby, 8 days old".

"Let me try to illustrate what the old man did!"  I took her 2 years old grandchild in my arms alluding Simeon who said, "Now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared..."  (Luke 1:30-31).

Simeon saw in this baby more than a "Christmas celebration", nay the very salvation prepared by God for lost sinners.  It´s such a triumphant joy  to be, as it were,  in Simeon´s shoes,  when at the end of our journey we depart from this scene. I quoted my dear grandfather whose dying words were, "Light is lying ahead" only to wake up in the very presence of Christ.

The doomed ALS mother, whose name is Mary, now let us  understand with finger language (translated by her daughter) that her grandfather said something similar.  I said to her, "I´m not offering you a crucifix, for the cross is empty and so is the grave, - we have to do with a living, glorified Savior to whom we´ll now all of us commit our souls!"

Indeed, this was part of our Christmas or rather its highlight.  We were at the coffee table feasting on Jesus, and may we do it again with Mary and her family up yonder.  This is also my wish for you and your family - a wish that goes beyond the usual empty "Merry Christmas" clichés!

Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2017 - jn