A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 5 out of 5

Rated:

Touched by an Angel was just gaining momentum when this beautifully-crafted Christmas episode sent the show's ratings spiraling through the roof. A Christmas Miracle, guest starring country singing sensation Randy Travis, has become one of the most beloved episodes of the show's eight-year run. Monica (Roma Downey), angel of God and spiritual messenger, has been sent to earth to handle a very special Christmas. Selina (Rae' Ven Kelly) is a young black girl with heart problems. Joey (Paul Wittenburg) is a seventeen-year-old mentally-challenged boy Selina befriends. Her one desire is to be an angel in the Christmas production at the church.

Tess (Della Reese), Monica's supervisor, is brought in undercover to repair the organ. Monica's assignment is Joey's older brother Wayne (Randy Travis), who is compulsively angry with his misfortune in being saddled with Joey after the death of his parents. When Selina falls ill the week before Christmas and doctors predict her death, Joey, in a fit of rage, destroys the production props and Monica finds him sobbing in the front pew. She takes him home and they painstakingly await Wayne's return from work. He comes home furious, having just been called over to the church, and orders Monica from the house. Selina, knowing nothing of the destruction, asks Joey to take her stuffed bear "Mr. Beans" to the church the night of the play, so he can take her place as the angel. What she doesn't realize is that Mr. Beans was lost when she collapsed in the snow. Her friend is also terrified of the dark, and even if he finds the bear in time, it will take every ounce of courage to go to the play's evening performance.

Guided by the angels, who must restore Wayne's faith, Joey's trust, and escort Selena into the arms of the Savior in heaven, this Christmas will indeed be a night to remember. This special edition release contains two episodes. A Christmas Miracle and the following week's Fear Not, which follows the story of a con man who comes to town after learning of a church's radical Christmas Eve experience. The popularity of the episode relies not merely on the guest-stars or even the touching storyline, but the last scene in the church, where Monica takes Mr. Beans up on the pulley so Selina's wish may come true. The wench snares the rope and it snaps... and just as the congregation expects a horrific accident, Monica is suspended in mid-air without support and the church is transformed into a glowing white array of angels, in the wings, in the rafters, the loft. The wood-cut animals become real and Selina is escorted to heaven by the gentle and compassionate Angel of Death.

Filled with beautiful camera shots and touching music (some preformed by Randy Travis himself), this is one Christmas production you won't want to miss. The only cautions I would bring up are a couple of minor profanities and some mild violence. When the con man comes to town, his advantage is to take hold of a pumped church and swindle them all into believing he has direct ties to the Almighty. It's highly unusual for a church to be visited by angels once. But twice? Monica may have to return to finish up the job... and restore a faithless secret to the light before it's too late. Roma Downey is at her most beautiful as the convincing Irish angel Monica. Adam, the series' Angel of Death (before the John Dye as Andrew) is a gentle soul who brings a great deal to the dreaded "death scene." Tess steps in to butt heads with a few stubborn church people. And the inevitable dove, the show's signature as a representation of the Holy Spirit, makes an unexpected appearance.