Christmas Eve. But there is no snow, soft Christmas songs and that special warmth in people. Christmas Eve with so much longing that vanishes in the night, with the hungry vagrants, their eyes staring emptily and hands outstretched for a crust of bread. The evening when even the angles have their hands bent but also the evening promises something supernatural, a great miracle in this city destruction and sinners, lost and forgotten by the rest of the world. An old woman is sitting in a dark street, holding a small child in her lap.
"Listen to my prayer, child. I’m praying for those who have forgotten what Christmas is. Oh, Lord, I’m only a drop in the ocean of mankind, a grain of sand in the immense desert. I am not great for what I have done. I am only a slave of this world. I do not wish a great deal, only Christmas. I can see a light before me, I can see that night when your son was born. I can see the frightened shepherds and the stars that have come so near, and the shepherds bowing you in the name of divinely and human love, please do something that all people in the world can feel this Christmas to be blessed and peaceful. Pray, oh Lord, forgive those people that renounce you. Give us Christmas filled with gentleness and kindness."
"Look, granny, it’s snowing", said the child.
"Yes. And now, dear, go or your mother will be looking for you".
The child has started for home. The cries have stopped. The angles are grieving no more. Something has made their faces light up with happiness and they are joyously singing: "Silent night, holy night." There is no abundance of snow. The hatred has gone; it has simply vanished. In its place there has come a gentle and pleasant silence of Christmas joy. And what about the old woman? She peacefully died that night, offering her souls as a gift to all them a happy and joyous Christmas. Her sacrifice was worth it. She has gone to heaven where she will be eternally happy. A smile has remained on her face because she knew that God has granted her prayer. Let this small smile be the sign of our Christmas.
