First Sunday after Christmas
The Family
Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40
The Spider's Web - Adapted from an ancient legend.
When wise men from the East travelled many miles to see the new baby Jesus, they
first visited King Herod, to find out from him where the baby had been born. Herod
was furious - and frightened. He didn't want to lose his throne to a new prince, so he
ordered the Imperial Guard to search out and murder all baby boys under two years
old.
While Joseph was dreaming, he was warned by an angel to flee from Bethlehem,
under cover of night. Quickly he woke Mary. She scooped up baby Jesus in her
arms, making sure he was snug and warm, then they gathered their few belongings
together, fetched the donkey and set off on their long trek across the desert.
The night air grew colder and colder. All the small creatures of the desert were
concerned for the young family. Night beetles glowed in the dark, to help show the
way. Bats flitted across the dark sky, to keep them company. But the way was long
and hard. Many times Mary and Joseph stumbled, and Mary grew more and more
tired. Eventually they decided to rest, and crept inside a dank cave on the hillside, a
few miles outside Bethlehem.
A tiny spider that lived at the entrance to the cave was thrilled that the Holy Family
had come to shelter in his cave. He wanted so much to help the new baby, to give
him some sort of present, but he didn't know what to give. Then he had a brainwave.
He decided to spin an enormous web, bigger than anything he'd ever attempted
before, to fill the entrance to the cave. That might, he thought, keep out some of the
cold air, so that the baby would be just a little warmer.
It was a huge job for such a tiny spider, but he set to work with a will and toiled all
night, spinning and weaving, weaving and spinning. As dawn broke, the tiny spider
collapsed, exhausted. But his work was done. The mouth of the cave was completely
filled with the spider's web. Reminds one of the story of the Spider and web in the
cave where the Scots king; Robert the Bruce was hiding. But that’s an aside. Now let
us get back to our story.
Just then there came the noise of horses' hooves thudding along the ground, and the
cry of soldiers. "Over here, Captain," shouted one of the soldiers. "There's a cave
here. Perhaps they're hiding inside the cave." All the little creatures of the desert
held their breath as the soldiers rushed over to the cave. The tiny spider sat in his
web, not daring to move.
Then the Captain said: "You fool! Nobody's been in this cave for years! Look at that
web. Anyone can see it's been there ages. We'll not waste our time looking in this
cave."
As the soldiers rode away, the tiny spider breathed a great sigh of relief. His web had
saved the day! Just then the baby looked up at the spider and chuckled, and the web
shone in the light of the baby's smile.
That is why, from that day to this, if you see a spider's web early on a cold morning,
you'll find it glistens and gleams. And that's why we put tinsel on the Christmas tree to remind us of the day the tiny spider saved the life of the Holy Family or so the old
stories go.
Paul says we are the people of God lovingly chosen as his own. In his earthly life,
Christ showed us love which enfolds and builds together all other attitudes. A life
affected by this love extends the peace of Christ to the whole of the community.
Amongst other things it is a life that shows compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience. These were just the things that the little animals of the
dessert including the spider were showing in their care of Jesus in the cave.
Paul suggests to us that home life is to be a special example of Christian love. He
challenges us to have an open, loving attitude toward each other. We are to be
forgiving and tolerant of one another. (Not easy when families gather at Christmas)
As a consequence of all this we come to know the peace of the Lord. Paul reminds
us that as a family what we do and say should be done in the name of the Lord and
should reflect that love of God. That love which was shown in the spider who wove a
web to protect and care for the baby Jesus.