January 4, 2009 Cycle B
Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6 Matthew 2:1-12
Over the Christmas holiday, no doubt, there were some of our children who had the opportunity to visit many a toy store and one of them in the larger Malls is “Build-A-Bear.” It is the place where you can literally put together, with the materials provided, your own teddy bear. It seems to me that we’ve all had our favorite teddy bear’s over the years. This leads me to tell you of a true story of a young six-year-old boy and his teddy bear.
His name is Tony, and he was born with a serious eye problem, almost totally blind. His doctor had heard of a special surgical procedure in the New England area. In due time a decision was made to try the surgery.
Tony had a favorite teddy bear that he kept with him at all times. The teddy bear had begun to show signs of wear. One eye was missing, one ear was chewed off, and the stuffing was oozing out through several holes. Tony’s dad offered to buy him a new one, but he didn’t want a new one, so the old one went with him to Boston and remained close by all through the x-rays, the tests, and the consultations. In fact, the boy and his teddy bear where not separated until the anesthesia was applied for the surgery itself.
With the surgery complete, Tony was heavily bandaged and had to remain still for a couple of days. Finally came the day for removing the bandages. For the first time in six years Tony could see. Although his vision was blurred at first, it gradually clarified, and for the first time Tony could look into the faces of his parents.
Before long it was time for Tony to be discharged and go home. On that final morning the surgeon signed the necessary discharge papers and gave Tony a big hug. He said, “Listen. I own stock in you. I expect to get letters from you regularly. Do you understand?” Then Tony did something totally unexpected. He said to his surgeon friend, “I want you to have this.” And he handed him his teddy bear. The doctor’s first impulse was to say, “Oh no, I can’t take that.” But something stopped him. With a flash of sensitivity the surgeon understood what Tony was trying to do. He wanted to give his dear doctor friend the most precious gift at his disposal --- so full was his heart with love. The wise doctor accepted the teddy bear with a hug and a thank you. He assured Tony that he would take mighty good care of his friend.
In the past ten years that teddy bear has sat in a glass case on the 10th floor of a Boston Hospital. One eye is still missing, one ear half chewed off, and stuffing oozing out of several holes. But in front of the teddy bear is the doctor’s card, and just beneath his name he wrote this caption: “This is the highest fee I have ever received for professional services rendered.”
Now reluctantly and slowly, let me break the spell of that story by adding that the incident of mutual kindness in one place in one city, in one country, took place during the Vietnam War, where life was being violently extinguished; in Africa where tyrants were massacring millions of people and fearful repressions and crimes were occurring all over. Yet in the midst of all this global darkness this teddy bear light shown. It was the pinpoint of brightness joined with millions of others and it still remains a sign of God in this world. That’s why I tell the teddy bear story on Epiphany – a feast of revelation, a light in the darkness. And travelers who followed the star to seek out that light that would make a difference.
As we look at our dark world today, the war in Iraq, --- Iraq is ironically the Magi’s home as well as, you know, the home of the Garden of Eden, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Rebekah and Rachel. This is the place that was visited by Jonah, Daniel, Ezekiel, and St. Peter. It is the place where the Hebrews were captive for seventy years --- and as we look at the genocides in Darfur and Ethiopia, and the threat from Iran, we too desperately seek the light. For we must be that light and add to the witness of Tony and his teddy bear and his gentle doctor.
Or, to change the imagery, we know of a dark cave in Afghanistan in the White Mountains of Tora Bora, where some suspect, stuffed with arms and weapons, a Muslim named, Osama bin Laden is hiding. Hiding because there is a multi-million dollar bounty on his head. And we know of another cave in the Middle East, in a little town, called Bethlehem, that has no weapons, only an animal or two, and now a husband and his pregnant wife. Here a child to be born, a Prince of Peace, the light of the world. The question we ask ourselves today is: How do we journey from the one cave to the other? (From darkness to light?)
Fortunately there are other pinpoints of brightness that remain for us as inspiration on this feast of the Epiphany. On this past Thanksgiving Day, CNN paid tribute to ten “heroes” of 2008. For those of you interested in the details about them I recommend you go to the CNN website to read about some of the outstanding experiences of the individuals. Among the highlights was a couple that moved from Washington to New Orleans to help rebuild homes after the hurricane. Because of people like Liz and Zack, there were 120 families able to move back into their own homes and they continue to this day to rebuild in Louisiana.
Then there was David Puckett, a specialist in prosthetics who traveled back and forth from Georgia to southeastern Mexico to provide artificial limbs and braces for those who were unable often to take care of themselves.
Among the ten honored, was Carolyn Lacroy, from Virginia. After serving time herself in prison, she started the “Messages” project to help children stay connected with their incarcerated parents. Carolyn and her volunteer camera crew have taped roughly 3000 video messages and wishes from inmates to their children and families.
The ten were chosen from more than 3,700 nominations submitted by viewers in 75 countries over the past year. It is another reminder that even in awful times amid the darkness and harshness of the world’s condition, they are the pinpoints of life that continue to shine forth. These stories of selfless achievement continue to be told. There are many opportunities around the world where unheralded individuals are making a tremendous difference in their communities and beyond.
As someone once said, “The candle says to the darkness, ‘ I beg to differ.’” The Wise Men wanted to differ with the world’s dark deeds and not just bemoan its terrible state. They would be a candle, a sign of God’s presence and, as such, an example and pattern for all of us.
But let me go back to the question that I asked before. It concerns the two caves, one of darkness and one of light. How do we, like the Wise Men, travel from the one to the other? Well now you know the answer: a teddy bear at a time.
Amen. Amen. Msgr. Tom, Pastor Christ the King