A Word from St. Nicholas
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Jaroslav Čermák (1831 - 1878) - Sv. Mikuláš
May I share with you what’s on my heart? I’m carrying a load on my shoulders. It’s about Christmas and me. I’ve been around a long, long time --- centuries in fact. I must tell you the truth. I’m not the same man I used to be. I’ve changed. When you see me today in a store, at the mall, or in a parade, you’re seeing a different man. I’m afraid some have gotten the wrong impression of me.
In the beginning I wore a bishop’s robe. I was tall and thin then. As centuries have rolled by, I’ve put on weight and rolled with them. Jenny Craig, ‘Weight-watchers’ and the Keto diet weren’t around. Since the nineteenth century, I’ve been a round and jolly fellow. I’ve had to get new, red breeches and a fur stocking cap; my cheeks are like cherries; and, yes, I still have a twinkle in my eye; but my age is telling on me. Look, my long hair and beard are white!
May I be honest with you? It really scares me to think to what proportions I’ve grown. This is just it. Too many boys and girls think that I am Christmas. They’ve put me at the center of their Christmas: I’m the one to whom boys and girls make requests; I’m the one they wait on at five minutes to midnight; and I’m the one they look to give them what they want.
Am I really? No, no, my goodness, no!! Let me tell you who I really am. People call me St. Nicholas, and so I am. But, please, let me tell you about the real me, the real St. Nicholas.
Sixteen hundred years ago, in the fourth century to be exact, I impressed people. Here’s how it began. One day, I should say, one, crisp winter night, I saw something very clearly in my mind. I understood whom Christmas is really about: Christmas is about Jesus Christ. I saw Jesus had given me a gift: He came in the flesh; lived a miraculous life; died on a cross and rose from the dead. All to forgive my sin and reconcile God and me!
This meant the gift of Life and salvation to me! Even me! He gave it long before I ever knew him. Finally, I received that Gift and owned it for myself. Have you? Things began to happen inside me. One thing that changed was the burden I felt for the poor, the sick, and the suffering. There were great needs in my town of Myrna (Turkey). As my parent’s had left me great wealth, I decided to return it to Jesus Christ. I gave gifts and presents to those with hardships.
Since I was Myrna’s bishop, I knew I had to give secretly. If I didn’t, people knew me and would think I was showing off. Also, I didn’t want people to know who was giving them gifts. I might embarrass them. So, I began giving my gifts out secretly at night. While people slept, I left gifts on their doorsteps.
I remember one poor man with three daughters. The girls were coming to a marriageable age. In those days, a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value —a dowry – to go along with his daughter. The larger the dowry, the better the chance a young woman had to attract a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. I feared for this poor man's three daughters. He didn’t have the money for one dowry, much less three. Without dowries, his daughters would probably be sold into slavery, or prostitution.
So, secretly, on three different occasions, I tossed bags of gold through the poor man’s open window. I later heard the gold landed in the girls’ stockings; some clanged into their shoes left by the fire to dry. This is where your custom comes from of children hanging stockings on the fireplace mantle.
Somehow, just what I feared happened. The word got around: ‘The Bishop of Myrna goes out at night and gives presents to people.’ People started calling me ‘Saint Nicholas’. When the Dutch Americans tried to say my name, Sinterklaas, it came out ‘Santa Claus’ rather than ‘St. Nicholas’.
What I’m trying to say is I am not Christmas! Jesus Christ is Christmas! I’m a servant of Christmas. I’m the result of Christmas. Christmas doesn’t come because I bring gifts. I bring gifts because Christmas has come. If it had not been for Jesus Christ, I would not be here. He is Christmas. He is the First Gift. He is the One to whom we make our requests. He is the One who fulfills our desires. He is the One for whose coming we wait with hushed breath.
This Christmas Eve, I will be bringing gifts. But please, remember, the Gift you most want is the Gift of Gifts, Jesus Christ. Ask for Him. Receive Him. Believe Him. Adore Him - if you have not. You too will be giving secret gifts to those with needs. ‘Ho, Ho, Ho, happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night’!
Tom is currently a retired Elder in the Virginia Annual Conference. He has pastored churches in Virginia, California and England. Studying John Wesley’s theology, he received his Ph.D. and M.A. degrees from the University of Bristol, Bristol, England and his Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. While a student, he and his wife Pam lived in John Wesley’s Chapel “The New Room”, Bristol, England, the first established Methodist preaching house. Tom was a faculty member of Asbury Theological Seminary. He has contributed articles to Methodist History and the Wesleyan Theological Journal. He and his wife have two children, daughter Karissa, who is an attorney in Richmond, Virginia, and, John, who is a recent graduate of Regent University. Being a part of the development of their grandson Beau is a rich reward. Tom enjoys a good book by a crackling fire with an English cup of tea. His life text is, ‘Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire, to work and speak and think for thee’.
