A MODERN-DAY CHRISTMAS STORY

 

Prologue: What if Jesus comes again in the same way as the First Christmas?

Suffused with a cozy and festive ambiance, the dining area hones in on the table filled up with traditional native dishes of braised pork belly adobo, vegetable and shrimp lumpia, pancit, rice, and leche flan.

Joaquin and Anne are smiling and chatting with their daughter Mae and her fiancé Joe sitting across from each other. Mae, smart, beautiful, and successful in her twenties, is wearing a simple but elegant dress and a modest engagement ring. Joe, handsome, caring, and responsible in his early thirties is wearing a casual but neat shirt and pants.

They are all reveling in their food and conversation, as they take delight in getting ready for the Christmas Eve dinner the next day along with Mae and Joe’s engagement and plan for their upcoming wedding.

JOAQUIN

So, Mae, have you decided on the venue for the wedding?

MAE

Well, Dad, we were thinking of having it at the church where we met, you know, the one near the park.

ANNE

Oh, that’s lovely. It’s such a beautiful and historic church.

JOE

Yeah, and it’s also where I proposed to her, remember?

MAE

Yes, Mom, it was so romantic. He got down on one knee and everything.

ANNE

Ooh, that’s so sweet. Let me see your ring again. It’s gorgeous, Joe, you have good taste.

JOE

Thank you, Mrs. Santos. I wanted to give Mae something special, something that shows how much I love her.

JOAQUIN

And we appreciate that, Joe. You’re a good man, and we’re happy to have you as part of our family.

JOE

Thank you, Mr. Santos. I’m honored to be part of your family, too.

They all smile and toast with their glasses.

JOAQUIN

To Mae and Joe, and their future happiness.

ALL

Cheers!

They sip their drinks and pick up on their conversation.

ANNE

So, what about the cake? Have you chosen a flavor and a design?

MAE

Well, we were thinking of something simple and elegant, maybe vanilla with buttercream frosting and some flowers.

JOE

Yeah, nothing too fancy or extravagant. We want to keep it classy and tasteful.

JOAQUIN

That sounds good. And what about the guests? How many are you inviting?

MAE

We’re still working on the guest list, but we’re trying to keep it small and intimate, just our close friends and relatives.

JOE

Yeah, we don’t want to have a big and noisy crowd. We want to have a peaceful and meaningful ceremony.

ANNE

That’s understandable. It’s your special day, after all. You should have it the way you want it.

MAE

Thank you, Mom. You’re supportive.

ANNE

Of course, honey. We just want you to be happy.

They all smile and nod.

MAE

You know, speaking of happiness, I have some good news to share with you.

They all look at her with curiosity and excitement.

JOAQUIN

Oh, really? What is it?

MAE

Well, I’m pregnant.

There is a moment of silence, followed by a burst of applause and congratulations. Joaquin and Anne hug Mae and kiss her on the cheek, telling her how happy they are for her. They also hand it to Joe, who looks stunned and speechless.

MAE

Thank you. I’m so happy, too.

ANNE

Oh, Mae, this is wonderful. You’re going to be a mother.

JOAQUIN

And I’m going to be a grandfather. I can’t believe it.

MAE

I know, right? It’s amazing.

JOE

Yeah, amazing.

MAE

Joe, are you alright? You look a little bit pale.

JOE

I’m fine. I’m just… surprised, that’s all.

MAE

There’s something else you all should know.

They look at her with curiosity and anticipation.

MAE

Joe is not the father of the baby in my womb.

The room goes quiet again, but this time, it’s a different kind of silence. It’s a silence of shock, disbelief, and anger. Joaquin and Anne stare at Mae, their faces turning pale and red. Joe looks at Mae, his eyes wide and hurt.

JOAQUIN

Why Mae? How could you do such a horrible thing?

ANNE

What happened? Who is the real father?

JOE

How could you betray me, Mae? How could you cheat on me?

MAE

Please, calm down. Let me explain.

JOAQUIN

Explain? What is there to explain? You’ve been unfaithful to Joe and us.

ANNE

What will our neighbor say about this scandal? What will the church say?

JOE

How could you ruin our relationship, Mae? How could you ruin our future?

MAE

Please, listen to me. It’s not what you all think.

Mae raises her hand.

MAE

It’s the Holy Spirit.

The silence becomes even deeper, as if time had stopped. The room is filled with eerie stillness and staring eyes. No one knows what to say or do. They all wonder if Mae is joking, lying, or insane. Mae looks at them with sincerity and hope. She reaches out her hand to Joe, who is still frozen and tongue-tied.

MAE

Joe, I love you more than anything. You are the only man I want to be with. You are the only man who can be the father of this child. Will you stay with me? Will you marry me? Will you raise this child with me?

Mae waits for Joe’s answer, as does everyone else. They all hold their breath, wondering what Joe will say, what he will do, what he will choose.

Epilogue

If you were Joe, what would you say? What will you do? What will you choose?

They beg the crucial question: Do you believe in the virgin birth?

If you don’t, don’t bother to answer the above questions.

If you doubt, it’s alright. Here’s why.

Dr. M. Scott Peck in his book The Road Less Traveled And Beyond shared his wondrous experience with his plane seatmate who told Peck: “I’m not sure that I buy this virgin birth anymore… So, I’m feeling kind of bad about it, because it looks like I’m going to have to leave the church.”

Peck narrated, “In response, I began to talk about the healthiness of skepticism and doubt…The path to holiness lies through the questioning everything… how such questioning was necessary for someone to move from a hand-me-down religion to a fully mature, personal one.”

“When we parted at the airport,” Peck wrote, “my seatmate said, ‘I don’t have the foggiest idea what all of this means, but maybe I don’t have to leave the church after all.’”

A Spanish Catholic priest Monsignor Quixote’s thought-provoking words spell out the essence of Peck’s experience: “It is odd how sharing a sense of doubt can bring men together perhaps even more than sharing a faith. The believer will fight another believer over a shade of difference; the doubter fights only with himself.”

Finally, if you do believe in virgin birth, then you’re blessed. As Jesus says, ”Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

Have A Blessed Christmas!

Content put together in collaboration with Bing Microsoft AI-powered Co-pilot

Head photo courtesy of DiviantArt

Video clips courtesy of YouTube