Day 1 Advent Devotional - Mr. Menotti’s The Gift A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great. (Proverbs 18:16, NIV) On Christmas Eve in 1951 the composer, Gian Carlo Menotti, presented television viewers with an everlasting gift. Inspired by the Christmases of his youth in Italy, he brought to life the tender story of the lame shepherd boy, Amahl and the Night Visitors. I was ten years old on that Christmas Eve. I still recall the enchantment of the music and the black and white images of Amahl and the three kings on their way to adore and deliver their gifts to the Christ Child. Of all the musical offerings of the season, this is the one that speaks to me. The beauty of The Messiah, the warm-hearted cheer of carols, and the tinkling of silver bells are all welcome sounds of the season, but this gentle little opera about a lame boy’s gift still works magic for me. For many years it was a staple of the TV Christmas season, but, sadly, in recent times it has become increasingly difficult to find. Occasionally live productions are done, but several years ago I resorted to purchasing my own DVD of that original production. For those not familiar, Amahl is a poor, lame shepherd lad living with his widowed mother. The three kings stop to rest while on their star-following journey. There follows the miraculous healing of Amahl who insists on joining the group, so that he may present his crutch as a gift to the Child. “He may have need of it”, muses Amahl. This gift given with the pure innocence of a boy shows us the true message of God’s gift, and certainly must “usher him into the presence of the great.” Our children of today have been given Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph with his Red Nose, and Charlie Brown’s Christmas. They all have their place, but may I suggest that this year you seek out the story of Amahl and introduce it to your family. This 45 minute gift from Menotti will bring the true spirit of the season. Claudia Grunewald
Posted on: Mon, 02 Dec 2013 14:04:02 +0000