Have you received a "holy kiss" from someone as though it came from the Christ Child?
James Schaap wrote in Reformed Worship (#45, pp. 40-41) about being kissed by an older woman after a disappointing Christmas Eve service in which the other participants seemed not to be paying attention to the experience. "Alone in my car, the holy kiss still there on my cheek, I found myself suddenly in company with the Lord who came to earth - not for Christmas, not just for spoiled children, but for all of us, even me."
The carol In the Bleak Midwinter is not in a number of hymnals, probably for good reason. As beautiful as the poetry is, the words are more about Christina Rossetti's pious romanticism than the nativity of Jesus or Christian theology. Yet, something of the wonder of incarnation - God coming to us as a flesh and blood human - is captured where the third verse says, "His mother only, in her maiden bliss, worshiped the beloved with a kiss."
Frances Sorrells was one of the widows in care facilities I have visited who made a tradition of giving me a kiss on the cheek at the end of the visit. As she became less and less responsive, that "good-bye kiss" became a light peck on her forehead. One of the last times I visited Frances, she was barely responsive, curled up in a near fetal position. The bed rails were up. After reading a Psalm and praying, I said to Frances, "I'm going to have to come to the head of the bed to reach you."As I bent down, she turned her head toward me and planted a real kiss on my cheek and smiled. I knew I had received a holy kiss! Someone has surely kissed you with such a "holy kiss."
Have you given such a "holy kiss" to someone on behalf of the Christ Child?
Moisei Baraniuc teaches Sunday school to 10 year olds at the Ukrainian Baptist Church in Federal Way, Washington. A 17 year old high school senior whose family immigrated from the Ukraine, Moisei works about 15 hours a week for minimum wage at Top Food and Drug Store. One night in November he found a bag contining $10,000 in cash in the men's room. He turned it in to his supervisor who was able to trace it to Fred Smith who had been carrying his life savings with him because he was moving. When asked if he thought about keeping the money, Moisei said, "I can't be teaching little kids not to do it if I'm doing it." Moisei certainly "kissed" not only Mr. Smith but also his supervisor, the police chief and many across the country who got his story in the news. (Dallas Morning News, 11-28-08, 11A)
Moisei was not consciously intending to "kiss" people on behalf of the Christ Child. As he went about being who he was, doing what he did, it just happened. Surely God has brought across your path when you were being who you are and doing what you do, someone who might say that because of you, they were "kissed" by the Christ Child.
To Whom will you give a "holy kiss" as though they were the Christ Child this Christmas?
Even acknowledging cultural variations and that the Gospels say nothing about Mary kissing the infant Jesus, imagining a new mother not kissing her baby is impossible. Did Mary think of her kisses and caresses as worship the way Christina Rossetti suggests? Perhaps not, but Mary was well aware that this was no ordinary birth of an ordinary child. Luke writes that after the shepherds' visit, "Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart." (2:19) The angel Gabriel had announced to Mary that her child would be conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary's elderly, pregnant cousin Elizabeth expresses astonishment that the mother of her Lord should come to her. Shepherds visited with reports of hosts of angels sending them to see the child who was to be messiah and savior bringing peace on earth.
Regardless of what we've seen in the malls, on TV or in advertising, Christmas starts on Christmas Eve. From then until Epiphany on January 6, we have twelve days to find someone each day to "kiss" as our worship of the Christ Child. The clues are subtle, but we will recognize whose who convey our "kisses" as worship for the Christ Child.
They will appear unexpectedly in our regular life.They will be unassuming and obscure. We'll almost overlook them. They will not ask for attention and probably won't be able to reciprocate or even acknowledge our "kiss." If we're alert when we "kiss" them, we'll know we've been in God's presence.
How will you recognize the "holy kiss" the Christ Child is giving you this Christmas?
Just I was caught off guard by that last "holy kiss" from Frances Sorrells, you will be surprised as you realize that someone has just delivered the Christ Child's "holy kiss" to you. Like James Schaap, you will find yourself "suddenly in company with the Lord who came to earth - not for Christmas, not just for spoiled children, but for all of us, even" you.
Christmas Eve 1999, the year before we came to Dallas to serve Central Christian Church, I was a pastor without a congregation, we worshiped in Milwaukee with the congregation of our son David and daughter-in-law Rachel and with her family. The pastor told a story of people being stranded in an airport by a blizzard on Christmas Eve. As it became apparent that neither the weather nor the runways would be clear to take off at least until Christmas Day, the weary travelers began to settle in for the night. Children because fussy and complained about missing Christmas. Someone set up several suitcases like an impromptu fireplace mantle. People took out socks to hang one for every child on the "mantle." They found trinkets and small gifts intended for others at the end of their journey and filled each sock. Waiting passengers began to retrieve Christmas cookies and other treats from their carry-on bags. Without offense to any religious tradition but with only shared joy, they sang Christmas carols until all the children had fallen asleep. This potpouri congregation was suddenly in company with the Lord who came to earth for all of us. At a time when our family felt alone and adrift, in the echoes of that story and the glow of Silent Night candle-light, our family received the "holy kiss" of the Christ Child.
This Christmas Eve we will light our candles and sing Silent Night. Even though I have done this many times, sometimes as often as 3 or 4 times on a single Christmas Eve, and even though I know what to expect, I am always moved with an awareness of God's special presence by singing in the glow of the candle light. This you, as you pass the flame, look directly at the person who brings it to you, and receive the flame from them as the "holy kiss" of the Christ Child for you. And as you pass the flame on, look directly at that person, aware that through you they are receiving the "holy kiss" of the Christ Child.
