Sunday 15 December 2019

Why Did Jesus Have To Come To Earth?



Another week, another Friday. Father Ignatius set out from St Vincent Church to St Joseph Catholic School to take on the Catechism class with the 15 years old.

It was always a challenge facing those youngsters, especially since he allowed a few minutes at the end of class for free discussion. They could ask anything they wanted and he promised to give them an honest answer – even if he didn’t have an answer, he promised them to say so.

A young pupil put up her hand and asked:

“Why did Jesus have to come to earth? Why didn’t God continue to speak through the prophets like Moses and all the others? And send His Commandments and messages that way? Did Jesus really have to come and die for us to be forgiven? Couldn't God just forgive us?”

“That’s an intelligent question Catherine,” replied the priest, “in fact it’s more than one question; all intelligent at that!”

The young pupil smiled proudly.

“I am not God,” said Father Ignatius, “and I cannot possibly explain what went through His mind when He sent us Jesus; or His motivation for Christ’s Virgin birth, sinless life, death and Resurrection. I know and believe that God decided to send us His Son Jesus to die for us. Yes, He could have just forgiven us, as you say. Being God, He could have done what He wishes, and still can. But I believe that He sent us Jesus, His Son ... and when Jesus was raised to Heaven He sent us the Holy Spirit, who is still with us today ... ”

He stopped for a while to clean his glasses which gained him some thinking time; then putting them back on he continued:

“Let me tell you a story I heard years ago …”

The whole class was now focused on his every word. He knew how to captivate their attention and he firmly believed that honesty, combined with his modern-day parables, would make them remember what he had to say and hopefully mold them into a lifetime founded on the Word of God.

“Once upon a time there was a farmer living in Canada where, as you know, the winters can be very cold and miserable.



“One such cold winter evening in the midst of a very violent snow storm, the farmer was in his home keeping warm by the fireside when he heard banging on the side of his house.

“What could it possibly be? He thought as he heard the continuous thump, thump, thump coming from outside?

“He ignored it at first, but as his dog was getting a little fractious by the sound the farmer put on his heavy overcoat and woolly hat and went outside to investigate.

“He struggled in the blinding snow and nearly slipped once or twice.



“As his eyes grew accustomed to the darkness he discovered that a flock of wild geese had lost their way in the snow storm and landed in the field near his house.

“There were literally hundreds of them. Disorientated, cold and wandering everywhere.

“They were landing heavily like an airplane with failed engines, and many of them crashed against the side of the barn.

“The farmer realized that left out in the cold they would soon perish without any shelter.



“So he opened the doors of one of his barns and hoped that they would go in for the night.

“But no ... they remained out in the cold cackling and walking around in circles rather than seek shelter in the barn.

“He tried to shoo them in by walking behind them with his arms spread out ... but to no avail ... the geese ran everywhere except into the barn.



“He tried to persuade his sheepdog to herd them into the barn. But the dog had better ideas in mind. He raised his back leg to answer a call of nature then ran back into the house.”

The class of students laughed in unison.

“The farmer thought to himself ‘If only I could talk to these birds in their own language and explain to them that the barn will shelter them from the snow ... It’s their only way to salvation from this freezing cold …’

“Then an idea struck him.

“He opened another barn and let out his own geese in the yard. The yard was now full of his flock as well as these Canadian wild geese. All cackling away in the freezing snow.

“After a minute or so he shooed his own geese into the open barns again and to his relief the wild geese followed them to safety.”

The priest stopped to allow the story to sink into their young minds.

“You see … I think God had the same problem with us humans on earth.

“For years He spoke to us through the prophets as Catherine said when she asked her question. But did we listen … of course not. We continued in our sinful way.

“So God sent His only Son to us, as a human, so that we may see Him, hear Him and hopefully listen to Him speaking to us in our own language.

“Some of us have accepted Jesus as the Son of God and have heeded the Word of God, as spoken through Christ our Lord.

“But years later, even now, there are many who are not listening still.

“And that’s what we must remember at Christmas time. It isn’t just about the baby Jesus being born in a stable. It is more important than that. It is about the reality that God Himself visited us here on earth all those years ago.”

24 comments:

  1. Hi Victor, nice parable.
    Jesus was the first to be born of God's Spirit, the first of many brethren. We have to be born of that Spirit Which will lead us into all truth, and when we are we are part of the body of Christ on earth and have access to the mind of Christ. Jesus is the One mediator between man and God. Hallelujah!!

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    1. Thank you for your kind compliment, Brenda. Have a wonderful and blessed Advent.

      God bless.

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  2. What an excellent explanation fo an oft asked question. Thank you! There are times I have wondered the same. Have a grand week!

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    1. It's great to see you here again Cathy. Thank you so much. Wishing you a blessed Advent and Christmas.

      God bless.

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  3. Another Fr. Ignatius classic! How I loved this story, Victor, when I first read it in one of your books, and it was great to read it again.
    Blessings!

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    1. Thank you Martha. I thought it was appropriate to re-publish this story to remind the true meaning of Christmas. I so appreciate your support and encouragement.

      God bless you and your family.

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  4. Excellent Victor!!!
    Children can understand this so much easier at their age and I enjoyed at my seven decades plus age, too.
    I do love how you come up with these wonderful ways of teaching "The Word of God" ⛪

    God's Blessings Victor ✝

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    1. Many thanx Jan. I guess we'll never know why God found it necessary to send Jesus to us. I think it was probably as an attempt to get us to experience His love for us. Everything Christ did on earth was out of love.

      God bless you and yours always.

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  5. Yes, I recall reading this … in wonder at that child's great question. This parable may well be my favorite of your stories! Sharing at tomorrow's Bible study.

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    1. Thank you so much for sharing and promoting my writings, Mevely. I much appreciate your support and encouragement. Very grateful.

      God bless you and your family always, Mevely.

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  6. Thank you VERY much for the easy-to-understand parable!

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    1. Thank you too Kathy for your continued support.

      God bless.

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  7. Excellent explanation put in terms all can understand!

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  8. A simple yet complex question, you explained it well in your story. Thank you, Victor!

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    1. Thank you so much my friend.

      God bless you and yours, Bill.

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  9. I did enjoy this post Victor, thank you.

    I think it is so important that honesty, combined with modern-day parables, should be used. It not only makes it easier for children, but some adults too!

    Hope you had a blessed Sunday.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan for your kind words. I thought this parable explains perhaps why Jesus had to visit earth all those years ago.

      Best wishes always. God bless.

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  10. WOW! This is such a profound story. It really touched my heart. Thank you, Victor.

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    1. Thank you so much Cheryl. It is nice to see you visiting here again. Thanx.

      God bless.

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  11. Father Ignatius gave such a tangible earthy explanation. Well done.

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    1. Thank you Susan. I'm pleased that you liked this story and explanation.

      God bless you always.

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