The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-12-26

about the most | can say for
myself is that | am for Christmas"
| did not speak, because | did
not know what to say l was study
ing his statement. He glanced at
me obliquely, waited, and finally
asked, do you understand what !
am trying to say?
Il don't know that | do" | an
Swered. i hope-I very much hope
you are not telling me that you
are for Christ in the Crib, but not
for Christ on the Cross"
He considered my words for the
space of ten steps. Then he -observ-
ed, That's wonderfully well put
But no, it's not what | mean. I'm
glad to be able to say truthfully
that it's not what ! mean. The trou-
bic is, I'm not at all sure that ]
myself know what | mean"
The Strangely Truthful Stranger
stared straight before him, search
ing his own mind, questioning his
own soul. Presently he spoke, slow
ly. Am | for Christ in the Crib,
but not for Christ on the Gross?
/ No. I'm not one of those who re-
/ ject the substance of Christianity,
while milking ii greedily for all its
sentiment, all its beauty, all the
Joy and Justice and love and order
and security it produces. I'm not
that kind. In fact, / don't much
like that kind"
Neither do l." told him. But
| like you. like the kind you are.
What kind is it?"
He smiled. Il too like the kind
| am" he said. If | didn't, I'd have
to dislike almost everybody. Most
people are that kind. Most of us
are for Christmas, even If we
aren't for Christ. | don't admire us
specially, but / like us"
but what kind is it," ! repeat
ed.
He pondered. I'm trying to get
il into words" he said. Il haven't
succeeded yet. It's not really that
we are for Christmas but not for
Christ. No. Maybe it's like this
we're for Christ at Christmas.
We're for Christ on Good Friday.
We're for Christ on all great oc-
casions. But we're not for Christ
day in and day out. We're"
The Strangely Truthful Stranger
seized my arm and looked into my
face in an agony of concentration
and self-analysis.
wait" he said. I'm beginning
TO see myself more clearly. I'm not
so much for Christ as | am against
Christ's enemies. oh, you can be
sure | am--what most OF uS areE
"We're the Home Guard. We're
the last line of defense. We're last
ditch troops. When we're forced to,
we take the defensive. But we new /
er take the offensive. We never go
into action until the enemy is at
the gates. We're too comfortable,
confound us: too comfortable"
The Strangely Truthful Stranger
dropped his hand from my arm
and spoke in a softer tone. Yes,
he said quietly, that's the KIND
most of us are. We sing and re
ioice with Christ at Christmas. we
sorrow in Holy Week And we hold
out doggedly for Christ when His
enemies invade.
I'VE hold out for a year, o thou-
sand years-it makes no differ
ence. On the defensive, in the last
stand. we are indestructible. But
the moment the enemy pressure
relaxes. we begin to take IL easy
again. We do not advance. we
thrust out no salients. That is the
work of better Christians than we
the work of saints"
The Stranger was silent long
time. AT last he said, We are not
hold not audacious, not aggressive
That is what is wrong with us.
That is what is wrong with the
world. But il is good to realize that
in the final showdown, we are un-
beatable That's better than moth
ing, | suppose.
Enormously better" told tne
Strangely Truthful Stranger; ana
we walked on through the merrt-
ment and the unaggressiye but un-
hnttnaoe of Christmas I