December 23, 2001
About two thousand years ago was born a
man, Jesus of Nazareth, who many believe so perfectly combined love,
forgiveness, gentleness and wisdom as to have been the Son of God.
Eighty
seven years ago tomorrow night, in a frigid trench at the edge of a
battlefield, some German soldier persuaded his comrades to begin to sing
“Silent Night”. British soldiers on the
other side of the field where, a few hours before, they had been trying to kill
the Germans, were moved to take up the hymn.
Before long, the German and British soldiers came out of their trenches
in peace, greeted each other with Christmas wishes, exchanged medallions and
other souvenirs, and turned the battlefield into a soccer field.
Let us always remember, and seek in
ourselves, the power of one person who dares to be different for the sake of
love and peace.
