This past week St. Anselm hosted its First Annual Christmas pageant. It was chaotic as all Christmas pageants are but I would call it a great success largely due to the work of my wife, Leah, our costumer, Eddie, some dedicated parents, and eager children. Being a parent myself with three children involved, I could not help but reflect (later) on the powerful witness these times are to the children of the parish as well as the rest of the congregation. We declare the Lord’s great works every Sunday in the words of the Gloria and many prayers, but there is something to children declaring those works to us that touches the heart.
In last night’s Isaiah reading from the Daily Office (December 16) the prophet Isaiah references God’s faithfulness in covenant from one generation to another. The passage doesn’t go soft on sin either. For each generation has to reckon with sin The first partitives voice to God’s indictment of his people.
1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
2 but your iniquities have made a separation
between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden his face from you
so that he does not hear. (Is. 59:1-2)
The rest of the Chapter details the wickedness that God’s people have participated in as well as their mistreatment. But ultimately God himself will rise as a warrior and deliver them and their children. This is what Advent is all about! God became man as a helpless baby but then delivered a people separated from Himself by his Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Jesus is the warrior who rose to fight for His people to save them. (Ps. 78:65). This babe in a manger whom we will welcome again is the warrior for us and will one day return with an army of angels for the harvest (Matt. 13:41, 25:31).
But what struck me especially this week in the afterglow of the Christmas Pageant were the last words of Isaiah Chapter 59.
20 “And a Redeemer will come to Zion,
to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord.21 “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children's offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.” (Is.59:20-21)
These words are directed to the prophet, but they are also true for all Christian parents. God has put His Word within us and our children prom the time of baptism. His covenant is everlasting and He will be there for our children and our children’s children. To protect them. To deliver them. To save them. Ultimately Christmas pageants, children service as acolytes, presenting the catechism, or reciting Scripture embody the truth of Psalm 146:4 “One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.” Praise the Lord!