Fr Paddy: The Little Drummer Boy

Generosity is a wonderful gift. To have a big heart is a blessing that is to be open and compassionate in love to the needs of others.

Generosity is contagious and beneficial. Fact…The more we give the more we receive. Generosity is measured in our ability to engage and be present to the needs of others.

It is also very important to be generous to ourselves. The more I care for myself the greater I can care for others… Christmas is a celebration of generosity.

God’s love is so overwhelming that he embraced our human vulnerability and became one of us.

A birth that evoked generosity from shepherds to wise men. May we all be blessed with generous hearts this Christmas.

A charming story is told of Poinsettia, a poor Mexican girl, who had no gift to present to the baby Jesus in his crib, as was customary on Christmas Eve.

As Poinsettia walked slowly to the chapel with her friends and family her heart was full of sadness rather than joy. An angel appeared to the little girl and spoke to her “I am sure that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes”.

Not knowing what to do, the little girl knelt at the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet.

Looking at these insignificant weeds, she felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by the humbleness of her offering. Poinsettia fought back a tear as she entered the small village chapel.

As she approached the crib she remembered the angel’s words. She felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the feet of the nativity scene.

Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant crimson red, all who saw them were certain that they had seen a miracle right before their eyes.

From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Buena, Flower of the Holy Night, known by all of us for its Christmas colour, called the Poinsettia.

This is a powerful story of Christian hope in a time of darkness and uncertainty.

And yet even where one can be overwhelmed and indeed choked by the overgrowing destructive weeds regarding so many structures in our society, the Poinsettia offers us hope. This is a time of cleansing, a time for renewal, a time for change.

Jesus born in great poverty to a family placed on the margins is our source of new life, renewal, hope and confidence.

Jesus feels no doubt the immense pain and suffering that is felt in the hearts of so many good people at this time. He dwells in our hearts that may be disillusioned.

The gift of Christmas is to indulge in a bright light that is so much brighter than any darkness. There are no limits when it comes to the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

There are no cutbacks in the unconditional love Jesus has for us all. The new life of Jesus Christ is not something that just once happened but a promise that needs to be realised in all our lives.

This is the time. It is the weeds of hurt and brokenness, disillusionment and anger that we place at the foot of our Saviour this Christmas. His Presence will transform and allow us to begin again.

The Little Drummer Boy is one of my favourite Christmas songs, largely because I see myself in this lad. If I were to encounter Jesus on earth, I’d feel as if I had nothing to offer.

Though the beauty of the story is that God doesn’t see us this way. He simply asks us to give Him our all, and in the little drummer boy’s case, it’s a song. And you know what? It’s a perfect gift.

God knows exactly what we’re able to offer, and He wants us to use our talents to praise and honour Him. That’s exactly what this little drummer boy does.

This song is meant for young children, but reading the words of this classic Christmas song is sure to get anyone into the Christmas spirit.

A Christmas Blessing
God grant you lightness in your step,
A smile on every face you meet,
Loved ones gathered at your hearth,
And at your door, good friends to greet,
A holy hymn upon your lips,
A window candle burning bright,
And may the Good Lord bless your heart,
And come to dwell here Christmas night.

May health of body and peace of mind be our loved ones greatest gifts this Christmas.

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