A solitary hermit living on a mountain receives a varied group of travelers on Christmas Day and offers a humble meal and prayer. As they eat, he observes the inner causes of their discontent and gently explains why each lacks Christmas joy, pointing to pride, material attachment, fear, self-absorption, and loss of faith. The encounter contrasts worldly expectations with simple acts of welcome, gratitude, and spiritual openness, suggesting that authentic celebration arises from inward receptivity and communal hospitality rather than from external comforts.