Faithful to the Story

Last Friday I was able to spend part of the day at the Mount’s new hermitage, a small building near the North entrance to the campus that has served different purposes over the years. I noticed that the words to the Benedictine College fight song had been painted by some students on the sidewalk leading to the front door of the building. Most of the words are faded; however, the phrase “faithful to the story” is still quite legible.

It felt in a way like an Advent message. By recounting the story of Jesus’ birth each Advent and Christmas, we are being faithful to the remarkable story about how God took on human flesh. As Psalm 78 relays,

Listen, my people, mark each word.

I begin with a story, I speak of mysteries

welling up from ancient depths,

heard and known from our elders.

We must not hide this story from our children

but tell the mighty works and all the wonders of God.

Being faithful to the story entails more than recounting it, however. Being faithful to the story means letting it change our lives. How do we live in relationship with a God who came to live among us? Does it increase our joy, our trust, our faithfulness?

My dad’s brother, my Uncle Robert, died today at the age of 97 years. He was a man who was utterly faithful to the story, as shown by a life of devotion to God, his family, and the land he farmed. The fruits of his life were a remarkable kindness, gentleness, and patience. It is a worthy goal of all of us to be remembered as one who, like him, was faithful to the story of all the wonders of God.