Two weekends ago, our church’s Nativity Riggers and Erectors local 14408 (our Knights of Columbus) set up the Christmas nativity scene in front of our church.  It’s a beautiful arrangement complete with lambs, shepherds, and wisemen gathered around Mary and Joseph at the manger in the stable.  

Last week, then, we received a call in the parish office from a lady in the neighborhood who had been out walking her dog and was drawn to check it out.  She told our admin assistant, Debbie, “Your nativity scene is beautiful but you ought to know that someone stole baby Jesus!”  Deb replied, “No, no, no, he’s not stolen” to which the caller responded, “But He’s not there in the manger.”

Being the good Catholic that she is, Debbie took this as an opportunity to evangelize and clarify that we celebrate Jesus’ birth on Christmas day, not before, and we’ll place him in the manger on Christmas day.  Sensing some confusion on the caller’s part, Debbie went on to ask if she knew the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas, to which she said she did.  Debbie continued to explain that the four week period before Christmas is what we call Advent, which is a period of anticipation and looking forward to Christ’s coming.  Then, unlike most of the world which thinks Christmas is over as soon as the gifts are opened, we believe that Christmas has just begun, that the first day of Christmastide is Christmas day, and we celebrate our Lord’s birth for the next twelve days up until the Epiphany on January 6th.

The lady told Debbie that she didn’t know this was our belief and was grateful to her for taking the time to explain it.  Then as a parting comment, the lady added, “Well, when I’m out walking my dog after Christmas and baby Jesus isn’t there, I’ll know someone stole him and I’ll let you know!”

Today is Christmas Eve as well as the fourth Sunday of Advent.  May your anticipation reach a crescendo today so that you can rejoice tomorrow!  And, if you happen to be in Lebanon, Ohio sometime in the next twelve days, stop by and see our beautiful nativity scene, complete with baby Jesus.  And, if he’s not there, please let us know!

(Where’s Baby Jesus? was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

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