Several days after Christmas, on the Feast of the Holy Family, I sat in church with my own family, still intact for a few more weeks before college and studies pulled our daughters away. We marveled once again at the beauty of the sanctuary, made even more so by an abundance of red and white poinsettias, two tall pine trees softly lit, and of course, the manger scene which now held the baby Jesus, as it was empty on Christmas Eve.
With the church a little less crowded today, the manger and the Holy Family were unobscured. Thoughts of gifts, parties and Santa Claus already seemed weeks ago.
Just before the opening hymn, another family slid into the pew behind us with a little boy about three and his baby sister. The toddler immediately started chattering in that adorable voice of childhood, asking questions, talking to his sister and pointing out the manger scene to his parents. As a plush Santa popped up on the back of the pew between my daughters, I heard the little boy ask his mother in that same adorable voice, “Does Jesus have any elves?” That prompted a giggle from the girls. Jesus? Elves? How cute. How silly.
His mother whispered something that I could not hear and handed him a box of raisins along with the plush Santa. He chattered a bit more but let that question rest. Touched with the innocence and curiosity of a child, it remained with me, however, throughout Mass and the remainder of the day, and I wondered what his mother had said. Magical elves at the North Pole prompt Santa in deciding who’s naughty and nice, whereas Jesus loves all of his disciples, offering eternal love and forgiveness. And of course, Jesus – the babe in the manger and the man on the cross – is God made flesh, not the fantasy of childhood or legend. No pointy-eared assistants ever accompanied him.
In some ways, I thought, we as followers of Jesus do function as his assistants by practicing compassion, serving others, and spreading the Gospel. While he cannot make a meal for a sick neighbor, deliver clothes to a homeless shelter or teach children of his sacrifice, we can, as we mirror his actions in our own lives. We are encouraged in Deuteronomy to “serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” The parish saw that in action as the tags of our Giving Tree were snatched away just hours after being hung, replaced a week later with piles of gifts. And, as fires rage in communities thousands of miles of way, those in areas of safety rush to provide for them. These are Jesus’ teachings at work, accomplished with love by those who assist him.
As one year ends and another begins, I wonder how we, as disciples of Christ, can serve others—through him—even more, not as elves per se, but as ones committed to his example.
I haven’t seen that young family again. Maybe they were visiting. Maybe they attend a different Mass. No matter. I just hope that little boy continues to ask questions and become curious about his faith until one day soon when he too can follow in the footsteps of that child in the manger.