Day 18 The Christmas Thief: An Advent Calendar in Prose

 

The Christmas Thief

An Advent Calendar in Prose

Day 18

Reilly watched Barnaby exit the church alone. His pockets didn’t bulge which was a good sign. Lots of coins in the holy water boxes this time of year. Reilly followed Barnaby at a safe distance. Barnaby wove in and out of the crowd, often disappearing into a shop for a minute or two, adding packages as he went. Reilly stepped into a few of the shops to question the clerks but none reported any thefts. A few remembered a swarthy man with deep pockets but, in the rush of the day, none could offer further identification. Eventually, Reilly lost Barnaby in the crowd. Cold and hungry, he headed home for lunch. He was on duty tonight. This would be his Christmas Eve meal. 

Annie and Katy squealed when he opened the door, “Daddy!” Each grabbed a hand and dragged him into the parlor where a glistening tree stood in the corner.

“Look, Daddy,” Annie said. “The manger is all ready for the baby.” 

Reilly looked under the tree. Mary and Joseph knelt by the manger. Shepherds and a few baby dolls crowded round. A sheep and a cow, a zebra, and an elephant stood guard.

“Zebras and elephants at the manger?” Reilly asked.

“Of course, Daddy,” Katy crowed. “Jesus loves everyone — even zebras and elephants.” 

The girls bounced off to lunch. Reilly looked from the manger to the angel on top of the tree. He followed his two little angels into the kitchen where a third waited with his lunch.

To Set Them All Free: 1 Tim 2:4-7 He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we’ve learned: that there’s one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth. (MSG)

Challenge: Think about the group at the manger — peasant parents, ragged and rough shepherds, strange-looking travelers from a foreign land — not the group you would expect to welcome a king. Jesus welcomes all to his kingdom. Look around you today. Notice all the different people you meet. Envision each one at the manger, standing with Joseph, Mary, the shepherds, the Magi, and you. All come to worship the king. All welcomed by Jesus. Welcome them too.