Dec. 9

Dec.9

In a world divided by national, religious, political, and racial hatreds, it's time everyone reviewed Jesus' answer to the question, " Who is my neighbor?"

SCRIPTURE: Luke 10:30-34,36

SUGGESTION: Do a good deed anonymously

SONG: " Because I Have Been Given Much" Hymns, page 219


Fable of the Christmas Apple , The

ONCE long ago, there lived a little Swiss clock maker by the name of Herman Joseph. He lived alone in a little one room home next to his clock shop. The clock maker's back was bent and his legs were crooked which made him very short and funny to look at. However there was no kinder face than his in the whole city and the children loved him. Whenever a toy was broken or a doll lost an arm or a leg, its owner would carry it straight to Herman's shop. Whatever work Herman was doing, he would always put it aside to mend the cherished toy, never taking even a penny for his work.

It was the custom in those days for those who lived in the city to bring gifts to the great cathedral on Christmas, and lay them before the large painting of Mary and the Christ Child. There was a saying among them that when a gift was brought that pleased the Christ Child more than any other, He would reach down from Mary's arms and take it. This was but a saying, of course.

Those who had no gifts to bring went to the cathedral just the same on Christmas Eve to see the gifts of the others and to hear the carols and watch the bright candles burn. The little clock maker was one of those. Often he was stopped and someone would ask, "How does it happen that you never bring a gift? Poorer than you have brought offerings to the Child. Where is your gift, clock maker?"

Herman answered, "Wait! Someday you will see that I, too, shall bring a gift!" The truth of it was that the little clock maker was always so busy helping the village children, the poor and the needy, that there was never money left for gifts at Christmas.

He did have one wonderful idea, a secret surprise for the Christ Child, and he worked on it every spare minute he had. It was a clock, the most wonderful and beautiful clock ever made, and ever part of it had been fashioned with loving care. He had spent years carving the case and hands, years perfecting the works.

The little clock was fashioned like a stable with rafter, stall, and manger. The Holy Mother knelt beside the manger in which the tiny baby lay, while through the open door of the stable, the hours chimed. There were kings, shepherds, and angels and when the hour struck, one of the figures knelt in adoration before the sleeping child while silver chimes played. Finally, he had a gift worthy to take to the cathedral. The last days before Christmas, Herman set the Christmas clock in the shop window to the delight of passers by, and the children who always visited.

The day before Christmas, Herman cleaned up his shop, wound up all the clocks, brushed his clothes, and checked the Christmas clock one more time. He had to be sure that everything was perfect.

A blind beggar came to his door and, in his usual manner, the old clock maker gave all the money he had to him, reserving a few cents with which to buy an apple for his supper. He was putting the apple away in the cupboard when the door of the shop opened. Trude, a neighbor woman, came in softly crying. "Herr Joseph," she explained, "My husband is very ill. The medicine he needed was so expensive. All the money I had put by for Christmas is gone. How can I tell the children? Already they have lighted the candle at the window and wait for Kris Kringle to come."

The clock maker smiled gently. "Come, dear friend, all will be well. Perhaps I can sell a clock."

He buttoned his coat, picked out the best of the clocks he still had in the shop, and went out. He went to the rich merchants, but their houses were full of clocks. Other craftsmen in the village said the clocks were too old fashioned. The clock maker even stood on the street corners and in the town square crying, "A clock for sale. A good clock for sale!" No one paid attention to him.

At last, he gathered up his courage and went to the elaborate home of the richest man in the village. "Herr Graff, will your excellency buy a clock?" He was trembling at his own boldness. "I would not ask, but it is for Christmas and I am needing to buy a little happiness for some children." Herr Graff said, "Yes, I will buy a clock, but I want only the beautiful Christmas clock in your shop window. It must be that clock or none." "But that is impossible!" exclaimed the clock maker. "Anything but that clock! I have spent years making that clock to give as a gift to the Christ Child." Disheartened, he stumbled out of Herr Graff's house and trudged back to his shop. As he passed Trude's humble home, he saw the children at the window with their lighted candle. He heard their mother singing and saw the hope shining in their eyes.

So it happened that early on that Christmas evening, the servant of Herr Graff came to the clock maker's shop and carried away the beautiful Christmas clock, and coins were quietly pressed into the hand of his neighbor. As Herman looked out the door, the chimes commenced to ring from the great cathedral and the streets became noisy with crowds making their way to the church, bearing their offerings.

"I have gone empty handed before," he said sadly. "I can go that way again." He buttoned up his coat and turned to shut his cupboard door, but his eyes caught the shining red apple he had placed there. A smile warmed his face and lighted his eyes. "It is all I have. I will carry that to the Christ Child. It is better than going empty handed."

The great cathedral was full of peace and beauty when Herr Joseph entered. Many gifts were on the altar, richer gifts than had been brought for many years. There were beautifully wrought vessels from the east, songs and poems illustrated on fine parchment, paintings of the saints and angels. After all these offerings had been made, the little clock maker walked slowly up the aisle, holding tightly to his gift of the Christmas apple

As the people saw and a murmur arose. "Shame! See what he brings? Has he nothing better to give the Christ Child?" The words reached Herman and he stumbled on, his eyes blinded by his tears. He quickly left his gift, and turned to walk back down the aisle. Then the murmur of shame died away, and in its place rose one of wonder and awe. Soon the words became understandable. "The miracle! It has happened!"

All the people knelt in the big cathedral. The little clock maker turned and looked up through tear-dimmed eyes and seemed to see the Christ Child reach down from Mary's arms with outstretched hands to take his gift.