From King of the Universe to Babe of Bethlehem
This Sunday, we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Some may balk at the idea of kings and queens, believing them to be antiquated and oppressive. However, they miss the point- Jesus’ kingship is one of humility, service, and self-emptying sacrifice. It is not a coincidence that this feast is celebrated on the last Sunday in the liturgical year before a new year begins with the First Sunday in Advent. Thus, it is both very fitting and appropriate, that the Feast celebrating Christ’s Kingship is observed right before Advent, when we liturgically wait for the Advent of the Promised Messiah or King. As the Advent Season is itself a preparation for Christmas, so the celebration of Christ as King is a preparation for Advent.
Scripture does not include the sublime words spoken within the Trinity as our redemption was made manifest and he whom the heavens could not contain became a tiny babe in Mary’s womb. However, the 1946 children’s book, The Littlest Angel, tells the story of heaven’s preparation for Jesus’ birth. In the tale, a young boy finds himself at the Heavenly Gates and is admitted as the Littlest Angel. All of the angels have put aside their usual tasks to prepare their gifts for the blessed Infant. All but the Littlest Angel. What could he give that would be acceptable to the Son of God. What could a small angel give that would please the holy Infant?
A little angel holds a box
The Littlest Angel at last decided on his gift- a small, rough, unsightly box that he had long ago left under his bed back home. And inside were all those wonderful things that even a child of God would treasure! He brought it from its hiding place behind a cloud and humbly placed it before the throne of God. When the Littlest Angel gazed upon his unsightly box lying among all the other glorious gifts, he wished to reclaim it before it was even noticed! But it was too late! The hand of God moved slowly over the bright array of shining gifts and then came to rest on the lowly gift of the Littlest Angel!
The Littlest Angel trembled as the box was opened, and there, before the eyes of God and all his heavenly host, was what he offered to the Christ child. And what was his gift to the blessed Infant? Well, there was a butterfly with golden wings, captured one bright, summer day on the hills above Jerusalem, and a sky-blue egg from a bird's nest in the olive tree that stood to shade his mother's kitchen door. Yes, and two white stones, found on a muddy riverbank, where he and his friends had played like small, brown beavers, and, at the bottom of the box, a limp, tooth-marked leather strap, once worn as a collar by his mongrel dog, who had died as he had lived, in absolute love and infinite devotion.
The Littlest Angel wept hot, bitter tears. Why had he ever thought that the box was so wonderful? Why had he dreamed that such useless things would be loved by the blessed Infant? Then, suddenly, the voice of God, like divine music, rose and swelled throughout paradise, saying: “Of all the gifts of all the angels, I find that this small box pleases me most. Its contents are of the earth and of men, and my Son is born to be King of both. These are the things my Son will know and love and cherish and then, regretfully, will leave behind him when his task is done.”
The unsightly box of the Littlest Angel began to glow with a brilliance that blinded the angels. None but the Littlest Angel saw it rise from its place before the throne of God to arch over a stable where a Child was born. Earthly eyes blinded too by its splendor would never know that the lowly gift of the Littlest Angel was what men would call forever the shining Star of Bethlehem.
The town of Bethlehem on Christmas
This classic Christmas story tells us not only of the infinite value of a selfless gift from the heart but also of a great God who loves so much that he became little like us and cherished his time with us. As we approach Advent and Christmas, let us reflect on the wonderful fact that that Child who was born in Bethlehem’s manger all those years ago was no ordinary child but One who was no other than the only begotten Son of God, One who is indeed “King of kings, and Lord of lords.”