Frank S. Mead once wrote a story titled, "The V.I.P." In his story the small town of Mayfair is excited over the anticipated arrival of a rich and important stranger, Henry Bascom, who is coming to spend Christmas in their town. The whole town turns out to meet him at the airport, but he's nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, a quiet man slips by the people at the airport and heads into town.

This quiet man does not appear to be a man of means. He is ignored and mistreated by the insensitive people of Mayfair. They are all caught up in a Christmas frenzy of materialism and shallow pageantry. They don't have time to help this stranger in their midst. Finally, a poor, old gentleman invites the stranger home for a meager dinner with his family.

After the dinner, the stranger returns to the airport, where two men are taking down the sign welcoming Henry Bascom. One man remarks to the other, "I can't believe we missed him. He must be in town somewhere, but we missed him." And the stranger, unnoticed by the two men, climbs onto a plane and leaves behind the town of Mayfair.

That could happen in our town, couldn't it? That could happen in our church. That could happen to our celebration of Christmas. We could get so wrapped up in a frenzy of materialism and shallow pageantry, that we could miss the Christ child altogether.

That is why on this Sunday before Christmas, we need to go right to the heart of the Christmas story. When we do we are struck by the utter simplicity of the Christmas message.