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Friday, December 24, 2004
Flavier: The parable of the Christmas visit
By Juan Flavier
SEVERAL days before Christmas, the farm family was already preparing the food for the big day.
A pig was to be butchered as were a dozen chickens for the six main dishes.
Halaya (purple yam pudding) was painstakingly prepared together with leche flan (custard) and macapuno (sweetened coconut).
The traditional parol (lantern) made of bamboo and colored celophane hung on the window facing the main road. Tiny, blinking lights framed the doorway. Each cool morning, the farm family hiked to town for the Misa de Gallo (Mass of the Rooster), so called because of the early hour.
In the evenings, children went from hut to hut singing Christmas carols with their makeshift instruments of tin cans and bottles.
Christmas was in the air.
The farmer sat on a chair and stared at the sky. Not a trace of cloud hindered the stars twinkling in the dark expanse. The bamboo grove creaked and swayed with the gentle breeze.
"I wonder what would happen if I made a wish tonight," the farmer thought. "I wonder if wishes are really granted." His thick lips smiled. "Why not? I have nothing to lose."
He looked up again and prayed in a solemn and fervent manner, "God, I have a wish. It may sound foolish but if it be thy will, please grant it unto me. For Christmas, I want Jesus to come to this house and be our guest. Amen."
Before the farmer could put down his gaze, a kindly voice from nowhere said, "Yes, I will visit and be your guest. Wait for me on the eve of Christmas."
The farmer could not believe his ears. But the voice was clear and unmistakable. "Yes, Jesus. I will wait for you. This is truly a great honor," the farmer blurted out excitedly.
He could hardly wait for the historical moment. Days and hours seemed to stand still in his anticipation. Meanwhile, preparations were doubled for the most honored visitor.
Finally, at about midnight on the eve of Christmas, the farmer heard a knock. He was disappointed to see a dirty and haggard woman.
"Could you spare some food. I haven't eaten for days," pleaded the woman.
With unmistakable annoyance, the farmer snapped, "We cannot touch the food until our guest arrives. Be on your way."
Almost immediately, a middle-aged man appeared asking for help. "I just returned from the city where I served my prison sentence. Would you have any work for me to do. I used to be a farmer and I want to earn a living no matter how small."
In a rather rough tone, the farmer told the man to return in January as an important guest was about to arrive.
Then out of nowhere, a teenager presented himself at the farmer's door. "I am from the next town. It is too late and quite dangerous for me to travel home at this hour. Can you spare me a room just for the night?"
In an even more irritated voice, the farmer responded, "We have no room. And we are expecting a very important visitor."
Then the farmer excitedly waited for Jesus. He never appeared.
The next morning, the farmer knelt in prayer, "Lord Jesus, you said you would visit me last night. I waited but you did not come."
The same kindly voice pierced the morning air. "I came as a beggar, you did not attend to me. I came as a prisoner, you did not care. I came looking for shelter, you turned me away."
"So it was you all the time, Jesus," bewailed the farmer with deep regret.
"Yes, for if you accept the least of your brethren, then you are ready for me."
(December 24, 2004 issue)
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