One of the mantras I use is, ‘Know the story, tell the story, become the storyteller!’ By this, I mean that in any values-based community, we need to know our core, foundational heart stories. For the Christian community obviously, this is the Jesus story and those whose hearts he touched.

For the community to have focus and to mine a deeper level of meaning we need to ‘tell’ our foundational, core stories as often as we can. We will never tell the stories perfectly. But through liturgy, ritual, symbol, works of mercy, story sharing and more – we will tell the core story that has shaped our hearts.

Over time, as we come to know the core of our heart story, we are encouraged to tell it as often as we can, and live it in our day to day – that we will grow to become the ‘storyteller’. We begin to truly own the story at the level of head, heart and hands.

I will be forever grateful to Zena and Frank, my wonderful parents who shared the Jesus story with me through both words and examples. In today’s Gospel, Matthew is writing to his Jewish audience. While Matthew is breaking open the Jewish pedigree of Jesus so none could doubt that he is the longed for one, it is not just about Jesus. Matthew is honouring the storytellers. He is honouring the sacred passing on of tradition, gatherings of heart people over centuries that have told and retold what is at the core of faith.

Perhaps, as we grow ever closer to our celebration of Emmanuel, God with us, this may be a wonderful opportunity to sit and reflect on the people in your life’s journey who, through word and deed, have passed on the faith. Who have been your storytellers?

by Br Damien Price cfc