Thursday, December 19, 2019

A CHRISTMAS BALLAD


A CHRISTMAS BALLAD
                                                                     by 
                                                       Anthony T. Massimini                                                                                                                          (1954)   

Across the moonlit desert sands
   The mission bells were ringing.
'Twas Christmas Eve and in the night,
   Three happy men were singing.

In coming home from Prairie Town
   They'd seen the Christmas Fair,
And luckily, these cowboys three
   Had won some prizes there.

The first one had a cuckoo clock
   With features quite bizarre;
The second had a pretty doll;
   The third, a green guitar.

Between their carols as they rode
   they spoke of the delight
The prizes that they each had won
   would bring their folks that night.

Then, in the sky they saw a star,
   Its darkness rose and fell;
'Twas the electric emblem
   of the Texas Star Motel.

"Let's stop a while," one cowboy said,
   "We've time and home is near,
Let's join the travelers at the inn
   and drink the season's cheer."

The other two they quick agreed,
   The inn was not too far.
So each one turned his sturdy steed
   and started for the star.

Now at the in, the atmosphere
   was extra warm and bright,
For many people, traveling home,
   had stopped there for the night.

The overjoyed proprietor
   was counting each receipt;
His inn was full, his wine well stocked,
   his happiness, complete.

When through the din a quiet knock
   was heard upon the door.
"Too bad," thought the proprietor,
   "I haven't room for more."   

The door came slowly open;
  A Mexican stepped in;
Behind him softly came his wife;
   Her face was dark and thin.

"Please, Mister," said the Mexican,
  "My wife, she very sick;
Please give her some warm place to stay.
   And get a doctor, quick!"

"Hold on!" said the proprietor,
  "I can't do that for you!"
But then he looked again and said,
   "I'll see what I can do."

"Maria," said the Mexican,
   "Have courage, dear, and pray."
Maria smiled, then bowed her head
  and answered, "Yes, Jose'."

Then back came the proprietor,
   and slowly shook his head,
"The only place to stay," said he,
   "Is outside in the shed."

"God bless you!"  said he Mexican.
   And then the lonely pair
Withdrew to find their resting place
   out in the desert air.

Now by this time, the cowboys three
   were nearing the motel;
Their caroling still rent the air,
    and all was going well.

And as they passed an open shed
   that stood beside a hill,
They saw a light and turned to look;
   The sight there stopped them still.

A man was kneeling down in prayer,
    A woman knelt close by;
And from some hay between the two,
   there came a baby's cry!

The cowboys three, they went to see
    this fascinating sight,
And they remembered vividly 
   that other Holy Night

When Wise Men three came bearing gifts
   across a desert far,
And how they found the Holy Child
   by following a star.

Now they too wished to give some gifts
   to this poor couple's son;    
They wondered what; and then
   they spied the prizes they had won.

The first one gave his cuckoo clock,
   with features quite bizarre;
The second gave his pretty doll;
   The third, his green guitar.

Across the midnight desert sands,
   The mission bells were ringing;
'Twas Christmas eve, and in the night,
   Three happy men were singing.


















































































                             


Monday, December 9, 2019

CHRISTMAS 2019

     The story of Christmas us the greatest story ever told. 

       To fully appreciate Christmas we start with our belief that Eternal, Infinite, Divine Love has been present throughout the universe since the moment of creation 13.8 billion years ago.  The omnipresence of Divinity throughout the universe from its very beginning has a name.  It is "Christ," which means, "The Universe Anointed with Divine Presence."
  

     Jesus was the Christ, the Divinely Anointed Universe, come to earth in the form of a 1st century, male Jew.  Mary, his mother, is exalted because she is truly the Mother of Infinite, Eternal God-with-us in human form.    

     While God is the universal Basis of our faith, Jesus is the global Center of our faith.  When we focus on him here on earth, we see the timeless, universal God in human form.  In his birth and life we directly learn of God's infinite, overflowing love for us.  

     No wonder that when Jesus was born, an entire army of angels sang, "Glory to God in the Highest!"  No wonder that we venerate Mary, who birthed him forth into the world.  No wonder that St. Paul wrote that "at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth."  (Phil. 2:10)

     In our Catholic, all-embracing understanding, Jesus represents love for everyone on earth without exception.  St. Irenaeus said, "The glory of God is people fully alive."  Jesus showed us how to be fully alive, i.e., by imitating him and showing love for everyone.  He taught that everyone is our brother and sister in Christ.  By loving others, we help them become the fully alive persons that God intends them to be.    

     St. Paul expressed our love for everyone in Jesus, the Christ when he said that in Christ there is not Greek or Jew, circumcision or uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all in all. (Col. 3:11).  

     Today we can say that while we rightly recognize the differences among us, by raising ourselves to the higher consciousness of Christ we can say there is not Catholic or Protestant, Muslim or Hindu, etc., not White or Colored, not citizen or immigrant, not right or poor, nor Democrat, Republican or Independent, etc., etc., but there is one justice, peace and love for all without exception.  

      In Jesus' Christmas Love, may we be vessels of peace and good will for all, so that we may all flourish in our blessed humanity and so that his prayer, "Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven" may take even a little step forward.

      In the Universal Love of Christ present with us in Jesus, I wish a very Merry Christmas to all my readers--and to the whole world.