Homily sharing for December 31, 2023. 1st Sunday After Christmas, by Connie Aurand
I offer these words of sharing this morning from my heart. They are part of my personal story and walk with Christ, and thus not the typical homily one might hear on the 1st Sunday after Christmas. Please open your hearts, mind and ears and share with me this offering, a part of my personal present journey.
I begin this story with some background. 28 years ago on December 28th, 1995, our family was changed forever along with many in our communities, and I would offer in the Puget Sound area. Our son, Trevor 16 years of age at that time on an annual Christmas celebration in Seattle with former Boy Scout staff members from Camp Parson, was murdered on Aurora Avenue in a drive-by shooting. All of the details from that night would make up twenty TV or movie scripts and basis for books. There were many angels that responded to that horrific tragedy, none more important than the four other Boy Scouts who had to respond to the immediate emergency. However, within a few minutes, they were surrounded by other angels–the Seattle patrol police officers, detectives and paramedics who went into action.
Trevor died at Harborview before Jim and I could arrive surrounded once more by God’s precious angels—nurses, ER physicians, medical techs, neurosurgeons, social workers and our beloved priest friend who rushed to be at the side of Trevor and us. We surrounded Trevor that night with prayer being offered over him as we surrounded his hospital bed. What I want to offer here is the precious gift of light –of Christ’ light in the service by all the first responders, his fellow Eagle Scouts, and Harborview medical team–of how our son, Trevor, was never alone but surrounded by the Light. As I said there are many stories that have been shared and lived since that tragic day. Over the years, there have been several law enforcement people who stopped by our house who knew of Trevor’s story, and thus ours. These individuals serve as angel protectors for all of us, leaving their families working sometimes long shifts, even at night. Please remember the police and our paramedics in your daily prayers. Now, we move to the present.
Recently, our seven-year old grandson, Grayson, out of the blue, pronounced to his mother, Amanda, police officers have to work at night in the dark away from their families for long periods of time. They are by themselves and are in dangerous situations wanting to help others. “They don’t get to go home at night during Christmas.” “I think we should take them some cookies as a thank you especially with it being close to Christmas.” Well, Grayson was emphatic that the gift go to the police officers. Amanda listened and took Grayson’s request very seriously and followed up in action. In a few minutes of time Grayson put together a platter of homemade cookies and candies to be taken to the local police station in Poulsbo as a gift of gratitude and unconditional love and thanks for their service, sometimes in the “dark of night”. Grayson, his brother, Kegan, mom, Amanda and I went to the police station in Poulsbo on December 28th. Grayson was blessed to meet with Officer Brian Munoz explaining why he was there and delivered his gift. I do not believe Grayson realized his thoughtful unselfish gesture was what Jesus would have all of us do.
The power of this gesture is what it means to “shine the light in the darkness” to give of oneself for another. Once more, a sweet child has shone all of us the light and connected us to the living Christ through his actions. As John wrote in this morning’s Gospel reading, “To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.” I do not think Grayson caught the significance of his actions of this
December 28th (on the church calendar marked as the day remembering, “The Holy Innocents”) as our family marked another year once more without Trevor.
As Christ’ light shines brightly in the world, as we ready ourselves to welcome a new year of 2024, I pray we all find a way to bring a small piece of Christ’ light to another person in this world. Grayson has taught us much. Let us all give God our thanks and praise and recognize the significance of Grayson’s gift to the world –a caring and loving heart–a true child of God. Amen.