Is 62:1-5/ Ac 13:16-17, 22-25/ Mt 1:1-25
Well, it was certainly cute and amusing as the little children are dressed up in Nativity-style costumes, with look-alike shepherds and angels.
What is really heart-warming is that the children and their teachers had taken time and effort to put up the Christmas Pageant.
They did this as their offering to God to recall the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
So that is why what we saw is called the Children’s Christmas Pageant.
The word “Pageant” is an interesting word. It means a grand show, a big show.
So besides the Christmas Pageant, there are also other pageants like the “Miss Universe” pageant.
That is indeed a grand show, a big show, a show of beauty and brains, with cameras clicking away and with the spot-light on the beautiful women from all over the world.
And of course there is the typical reaction of the eventual winner of the “Miss Universe” title.
Well, in our Children’s Christmas Pageant, it is also a grand show; at least the parents were clicking away with their cameras and videoing the whole pageant.
But instead of glamorous designer evening gowns and dresses, what we saw was a motley combination of mix-and-match costumes that brings us back to the time of the birth of Jesus.
And the children, with the guidance of their teachers, were doing the Christmas Pageant because they want to be part of the beautiful Christmas story.
And every character in the Christmas story has a role and a purpose. Nothing happens by coincidence.
If not for Caesar Augustus issuing a decree for a census, then Mary and Joseph would not need to go to Bethlehem. And in doing so they fulfilled the prophecy.
And because there was no room at the inn, Mary had to lay the new-born Jesus in a manger where the shepherds were able to find them.
And the shepherds came because of the angel’s announcement of the birth of the Saviour.
Yes, nothing happens by coincidence. There was a plan, a beautiful plan for a simple and humble and quiet entry of the Saviour into the world.
And for the children who took part in the Christmas pageant, it was not a coincidence either.
Well, at least they will remember that they played a role in Christmas Pageant 2012, whether it is Mary or Joseph or the shepherd or the angel. (Anybody played role of the donkey or cow?)
How will this have an influence in their lives, we will know as the mystery of life unfolds.
And as for us who are here this evening and have watched the pageant, we being here is certainly not a coincidence.
Nothing in life happens by coincidence, especially when it is at Christmas.
Why are we here may be due to various reasons – we are here with our family or friends; we are here because the Midnight Mass will be too late and it will affect our beauty sleep.
We may be bored and got nowhere to go because everywhere is crowded; or we could be part of that network of undercover Catholics who only comes for Mass at Christmas and the service on Good Friday.
Whatever it may be, we being here is not a coincidence. Because something has happened to us.
Just like Mary and Joseph and the shepherds and even the angels, something has happened to them.
All because the Saviour has come into the world and into their lives.
So we have seen the Christmas story. We have seen a wonderful pageant, and now we are a part of it.
What will happen to us we will know as life unfolds.
Yes nothing happens by coincidence because the Saviour has come into our lives.
Let us join the angels and praise God and give glory to Him in the highest heavens.
