4th Christmas day, Innocent Children's Day

Kati Jansa, chaplain

An old Finnish legend tells about Mary, Joseph and a newborn child who have to flee from soldiers. The background of the legend is the story of the holy family's escape to Egypt in the Gospel of Matthew, when King Herod threatened to kill all the little boys (Matthew 2:13-21).

The holy family's escape from Bethlehem to a safe place took place on rocky mountain roads, and in the middle of green olive groves, but the old Finnish storytellers had not seen this landscape and could not imagine it. That's why they told the story in the landscape that they themselves knew well.

So Mary, Joseph and the newborn Jesus had to flee. In the middle of the dark, wintery forest they were afraid of their pursuers. The journey had already been very long, and the soldiers' voices were getting closer behind them all the time. Mary and Joseph carried Jesus, their breath was hazy in the cold and they were tired.

Then the baby Jesus burst into speech and said: "Let's take shelter under the trees!"

At that time, says a Finnish legend, the branches of the spruce tree still grew upwards. That's why there was no shelter under the tree, only a sticky trunk to lean against. It all seemed hopeless, but the family could no longer carry on. That's why Mary and Joseph huddled under the tree next to the trunk and tried to protect little Jesus between them. The scary voices behind them kept getting louder.

When the soldiers were already very close, spruce tree suddenly lowered its branches towards the ground. The branches now protected the people huddled against the trunk so that the pursuers could not see them, but ran past them.

Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus were saved. Since then, says the legend, spruce branches have been descending downwards.

The fear the Holy Family felt is the same fear that parents and children feel today all over the world. Poverty, illness, accidents are scary. Being alone, being rejected, being bullied are scary. King Herod also felt fear, since he realized Jesus was undermining his power.

As the baby Jesus did in the legend, he does also in this world today. He encourages and points to places of refuge. He overturns the power structures, overthrows the powerful from their seats and exalts the powerless, feeds the hungry and sends the rich away empty-handed.

He says to everyone, absolutely everyone: Stop being afraid! Listen!

So when you look at a spruce this Christmas, either brought inside and decorated or standing in a snowy forest, you can remember this old legend. You can ask God to show you a place of refuge. You can also ask that God would show you how you can offer protection and safety like a tree to those who flee.

We pray.

Jesus Christ, be near to all who fear. Give us all the courage to protect those who fall victim to abuse of power or indifference, war or poverty. Be with us and give us your peace. Amen.