It’s Christmas Eve and the church is packed. A sense of peace is in the air. People are in a good mood, their bellies are brimming and presents have been abundant. Everybody whispers a quick ‘hello’ to friends and keeps talk hushed in anticipation of the priest’s arrival.
The altar boy rings the bell and the priest takes the stage. But as he’s about to begin the sermon, something unexpected happens: the front door opens noisily and a man steps into the church. His clothing is unusual to say the least: he’s just wearing a long sackcloth and sandals, clean and tidy, but he seems comfortable, despite the bitter cold outside. He’s a handsome man, his body is lean and strong, and his face shines with abundant health. His hair is long, white, and curly. His flair is peculiar: he looks youthful and up in years at the same time. Also, from some angles it’s impossible to tell, whether he’s a man or woman. But his jaw-dropping feature is a bright halo around his head sparkling with rainbow colors.
People are stunned. It’s so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Could it be? No, that’s impossible! This must be a prank! The man that looks like Jesus walks through the nave and makes his way to the altar, where the priest is trembling in disbelief. He opens his arms and offers the priest a hug. The priest pulls himself together and addresses the man in sackcloth, avoiding the cuddle: “Excuse me, but we’re having a Christmas Mass here.”
“I know. Am I disturbing you?” the man is genuinely surprised that the priest rejects his friendly gesture.
“Uhh … of course not … but why don’t you take a seat?” the priest forces himself to be polite.
The man ignores the priest. He takes a few turns and scans the church. “Quite pompous,” he shakes his head. “Don’t you know that the temple I talked about is our body, the living temple bearing the Sacred Spirit?” Then, the man spots the crucifix and knits his brows: ”Oh my … why do I look so miserable?”
“Please, take a seat!” the priest demands.
“Why are you so serious? This is a birthday party, isn’t it? Why don’t we all get up and dance?” the man twirls a pirouette. “I love to boogie.”
“Please, take a seat!” the priest repeats angrily.
“Excuse me!” the man widens his eyes and shakes his head in a funny way. “This is my party!”
The priest gets down from the pulpit and grabs the man’s arm. “I think you better leave now or I will call the police.” Some men on the front benches, who feel that they have some muscles, are getting ready to intervene.
“Do you want to put Jesus in jail?” the man laughs. “I thought you’re my priest!?”
“You’re not Jesus!” the priest shouts. “That’s a sacrilege! You’re just a beggar. Get outa here!” People agree with the priest, murmuring angrily.
“They all say that when they see me for the first time,” Jesus grins. “Do you want me to prove that I’m Jesus?” he rests his hands on the priest’s shoulders. People drop back onto their benches. Thrill rattles their doubts.
“Watch me!” Jesus approaches a man on the front bench. “Matt, please tell these people: how long have you been blind?”
“Since birth,” Matt replies.
“Do you want to see?”
“Please don’t make fun of me like that,” Matt makes a sad face.
“Open your eyes and see!” Jesus exclaims in a dramatic tone.
Matt takes off his shades and opens his eyes. “I still can’t see,” he responds.
“Hmm … wait,” Jesus scratches his head. “Something is missing … right: no faith. You guys have even less faith than my contemporaries two-thousand years ago. Let’s do it another way.” Jesus kneels in front of the blind man and takes his hands into his. Some kind of exchange takes place through their hands and arms, the exchange of energy or substance or both. Suddenly, the blind man’s eyes widen and he exclaims: ”I can see! I can see!” He hugs a man to his right and then, his wife to his left. He withdraws, stares at his wife, and frowns: “I imagined you differently!”
Jesus stands up and asks the priest: “Do you believe me now?”
The priest hesitates. “Maybe if you could turn this water into wine,” he mumbles, pointing at a bowl of holy water. The water turns red in an instant. The priest dips a finger into the red liquid and tastes it.
“It’s really wine!” he exclaims.
“Hallelujah,” a woman shouts in the back.
* * *