Sunday, November 25, 2001
Sunday, November 25, 2001
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his
glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
His parents, in tears, were watching him pack.
"I'll write every day," said Yuri.
"But the censorship," wailed his mother. "They'll watch every word."
Yuri's father said, "I have an idea. Anything you write in black, we'll know is true. But
anything you put in red ink, we'll know is nonsense!"
A month passed; then from Siberia came a long letter--all in black ink!
"Dear Mama and Papa," the letter began. "I can't tell you how happy I am here. It is a
workers' paradise! We are treated like kings. I live in a fine apartment--and the local
butcher has meat every single day! There are many concerts, theater, movies--all free.
And there is not one tiny bit of anti-Semitism! Love, Your son, Yuri. P.S. There is only
one thing you can't find here: red ink.
In our scripture reading for today, Jesus says that for one purpose did he come into the
world--to bear witness to the truth.
(John 1:14
NRSV)
Leo Rosten tells a story about Yuri Smolenski, a engineer in the former Soviet Union.
Yuri had been ordered to move to a minor position in a faraway, frozen Siberian
outpost.
Loving God, to you belongs all truth. May I also bear witness to your truth. Amen.
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