The Catholic times. [volume], December 19, 1952, 1952 Christmas Supplement, Image 19

About The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current

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10
Wishing AU A
Joyous Christmas
Oblate Fathers
West Jefferson, Ohio
to
Season’s Greetings
Arthur E. Dawson
Funeral Home
COSHOCTON, OHIO
“Fear uotl for, behold, I bring you, good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people.”
Saint Joseph Academy
Conducted By
THE SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME
COLUMBUS OHIO
WISHING YOU A HAPPY
XKSSSEH^
When they sow the star, they
repined with exceeding great
joy.
I,
St. Anthony Hospital
COLUMBUS, OHIO
X!
$
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&
Again the occasion arises to
unite in renewing our pledge
of peace on earth and good will
toward our fellow man
May each of you receive many
fold blessings during the Christ­
mas season
St. Christopher's Parish
Rev. A. E. Culliton, Pastor Rev, Geo. Marzluff
Grandview and Ida Avenues
COLUMBUS, OHIO
THE ATFOLK? TIMES CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT
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THE LOST YEARS
»dr* d'd* d» dt-& d^d:** -d^ds^d^d:^
By Lois Snelling
The bundle in the woman’s lap must have been a baby. Zachary
never forgot her face. Twenty-seven years later he recognized her
and saw, for the first time, her Babe—now a Man grown tall and
straight.
Today 1 went to a wedding feast. It began as a merry
occasion it ended as a soul-stirring, unbelievable exhibition
of the impossible. Some guests were terrified others, in
cluding myself ah, how can I state in mere words the
sensations that flooded my lieart?
1 can still hear Reuben’s voice
pulsing against my eardrums as
we walked home- Reuben, trying
to convince himself and me
trying to explain the inexplicable
turning my mind back over a
generation of time, and pointing
out for my shrouded eyes the hand
of God.
“For it is the hand of God, Zach
ary." Reuben declared emphatical
ly “It must be! Put it all together
-all the separate pieces. Don't you
see how they fit?” He* suddenly
bowed his head, and I knew that
he was praying.
Put the pieces together see
how they fit.
1 put them together Walking
the dusty road by Reuben’s side I
tried to be methodical, but my
mind was awhirl with bewilder
ment.
1 had recognized the woman as
soon as she came into the room
It had been a long time, but 1
had never forgotten her. Why? I
cannot say. That first time, she
had been very young now she was
middle aged. And of course I did
not recognize her son. Of him and
the others 1 knew nothing until
this strange thing had happened.
But the moment 1 saw the woman,
my mind went racing back across
the years
1 was a farmer then I still am.
My land was near Bethlehem, as it
still is I remeinberl that tax en
roll men! the first in Palestine, by
decree »t Caesar Augustus Rut il
is the decree that followed which
is so deeply impressed upon my
memory. What shook my soul to
its foundation was the realization
that the life of my only son was in
danger!
If was a chili winter’s night when
my cousin Saul came stealthily to
my house. Saul was a member of
tie Jewish guard at Herod’s pal
ace a hardbitten soldier of
strength and valor. But that night
lit- face was marked with tear He
spoke in whispers and made me
swear never to rejieat what he was
about to say to anyone except my
wife
“My head is in jeopardy,” he
said “It is treason to my king,
and Herod is not a gentle man
He talked rapidly, for he must
return quickly to Jerusalem Al
Herod’s palace news had leaked
out as news often does in court
circles that a decree was to be
issued. Just when, Saul did not
know but soon: for this was a case
where quick action was of the ut
most importance
‘‘And the decree?"
“All male children under two
years of age in and around Ret hie
hem are to die.” His words fell on
my heart like the hammer of
doom. Joel was six months old.
“But why?” I gasped. “Is Herod
a Pharao to inflict such cruelty on
the innocent?"
“Herod is Herod the Great,”
Saul replied mockingly. “And .e
intends to remain h. But right
now he* is filled with great fear
because of something he has
'HU*!
dtd*
heard. A strange story, Zachary,
but it is to have dire consequences.
So listen well, then prepare at
once to take your son and flee
from Palestine.
“Several days ago three strang
ers—astronomers, it seems—came
to see the king. They were worn
from long traveling and seemed
troubled in mind. They had seen
a new star in the sky and had fol
lowed its light And they seemed
to know something of the prophe
cies of our people, for they said
to Herod—and these are the exact
words. Zachary—“Where is he that
i- born King of the .Jews? We have
seen his star in the East and have
come to worship him’.”
Saul looked at me with meaning
in his dark eyes. “King ol the*
Jews!” Ah, that would be a bitter
ness to Herod'
At that moment I remembered
the shepherds and the wild story
they had told.
But there was no time for re
membering now. Saul was saying.
“Herod quickly called the chief
priests and scribes together and
questioned them about the ophe
cies concerning the birth of a Mes
sias. When he was informed that
the place* was to be ethleheni he
told these astronomers to go to
Bethlehem and search tor the
child When they had found him.
they were to return and report to
Herod, so that he too might go and
cordnp hnn Bah. the blaspheme
»f the words'"
“And aitei the men came buck?”
"They did not come back. Herod
waited until he realized he had
been tricked Then in desperation
he decided on this new decree.”
That same night 1 set out, as
silently as possible. In a basket
against my camel’s shoulder lay
my little son-4Ie slept as peaceful
ly as if the shadow »f death were
not hanging over him. as serenely
as it his mother were not sobbing
her heart out in loneliness at
home. Before me lay the route to
Egypt and my sister’s home in
Alexandria Behind me lay all the
doomed parents I could not warn
because of my pledge to Saul
As the camel padded through the*
gloom I thought of all the things
my cousin had told me. Had the
three* wise men from the far coun
tries really gone to Bethlehem’' If
so what had they found there?
The question brought back to my
mind the foolish shepherds and
the story they had told: they had
been awakened, they said, by a
bright light and heard voices sing
ing Then a voice spoke to them di
rectly. I remeember the words
well, for the shepher repeated
them over and over: “Today in the
town of David a Saviour has been
born to you. who is Christ the Lord
You will find an infant wrapped
in swaddling clothes and lying in
a manger
“A Saviour Christ the
land The words rang in my head
like a bell ’hose shepherds were
simple uneducated fellows, and
ciiRisTinns
St. Ann's Infant Asylum
and Maternity Hospital
December 19, 1952
had been unimpressed by their
story. But these astronomers
they were not uneducated.
It was alter I crossed the border
into Egypt that I first saw them
They were traveling by donkey,
and my swifter-moving camel soon
overtook them. A feeling of in
tense joy and gratitude had been
surging through me ever since I
had passed safely beyond (he point
where Herod’s fear could menace
my son. As 1 caught up with the
two travelers. I lifted my hand in
friendly greeting to the man
but it was the face of the woman
1 was looking at. She was young,
pretty, obviously a Jewess, and
very tired. But there was some
thing about her face that stirred
a strange, unfamiliar longing in
my heart. She glanced at me brief
ly, then turned her gaze to the
bundle in her lap. Another mo
nient and I had left them behind
in a cloud of dust.
After that I lifted Joel from his
basket and rode with him on my
lap—my son and I together, with
no cruel hand to reach out for
him.
The boy was riding so when a
stranger joined me. Until 1 cross
ed the border I had shunned trav
eline companions and conversa
tion a fugitive takes no chances
But now that we were safe. I wel
corned companionship. Samuel. I
learned, was a Jew living in Egypt
1 told him why I was making this
lone journey with such a small
child.
He* nodded solemnly. "I pray
God that every child of Bethle
hem may escape." And he added.
\t least one other has His par
ents are traveling by donkey. We
ate our noon day meal at the same
place yesterday and the father
told me."
baby' So the bundle in the
young woman’s lap w as a baby! Rut
the* thought circled around and
around in my head how did the
parents know to leave Palestine’
How could thev know’ Did these
people, too. have friends at the
palace’ But that could not be!
Traveling by donkey they must
have* left Judea long before even
Saul knew of the decree!
Strange." 1 muttered into
Joel’s bright curls “Saul warned
me Who but God could have
warned them’”
Twenty seven years is a long
time. They passed, and life’s
events went with them, hand in
hand. Joel now had a wife and
children of his own. 1 tilled my
land, and thought more deeply
than in my younger days—
thought of many things: and I
pondered often on the promises
of the prophets concerning a
essias.
“Generations are born and
die.’’ 1 would sigh, “and he does
not come. 1 am growing old—I
too will die.”
It was spring and time for plant
ing. 1 set out for (“ana where my
friend Reuben could provide me
with excellent seeds I found him
in a jovial mood.
“I am glad you came today,
Zachary.’' he* exclaimed as a serv
ant led my camel away. “You shall
go with me to a wedding feast.”
(Continued on Page 11)
............................ 1 .....—
A BLESSED CHRISTMAS
TO ALL!
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH
Dominican Fathers
HARRY WELLNITZ
231 N. Princeton
Columbus, Ohio