Writing this after Christmas--ours was wonderful as usual, but smaller in attendance-- I hope your Christmas was one where you felt very close to the Christchild. He is still in his "cave" in Bethlehem, loving his mother and his father and the donkeys and every breath he took and every bit of his mother's milk he dared to ask for. Following the story TWO FROM GALILEE by M. Holmes, we continue to find Mary resting.
Mary did rest on the night her child was born. And Joseph kept watch, exhausted, yet too tired to sleep. Their son had been safely born and he had been part of it. The boy was his son, too! They were sleeping quietly now, his wife and child. He shielded the lamp, and once again, held it above their faces, if only to witness the blessed sight of them, in this moment of rapture.
As he stood there, he was startled to hear the sound of approaching feet. Gripped with fear, he felt a great need to protect his family. Feeling like a lion might feel in protecting its den, he hurried to bar the door. No harm must come to them! Nothing must disturb their sleep! He could see the figures now, carrying torches. There was such a light behind them, he wondered if the sun was already high. To his relief he saw the man leading the group; he was the one who had helped him earlier. "Hush," Joseph whispered. "Don't wake them. My wife and newborn son are sleeping."
"Then all is well with you, my friend?" The herdsman's long, narrow face seemed pale in the glowing light; his eyes were filled with doubt and amazement. "The child was safely born?" "Yes, thanks be to God. A man-child is now resting with his mother. Pray be quiet."
"Then it's true!" There was a smothered outcry, a stir of excitement as others pressed forward. Several new shepherds were there, having traveled a long way. "We told you this was the place!" one of them said to the tall Beduoin. "The star led us here! It stands even now, above your door!" And he begged Joseph, "Pray let us see with our own eyes the glory the angels told would be lying in this holy place."
"Angels?" "Yes, a whole choir of angels singing! And they led us here from tending our sheep in the Jericho hills." And he pushed forward a small boy. "The lad saw the angels first. He thought he was dreaming, then we all awoke from the music and the light." "We have traveled for hours," another said. "Please let us come in; we have gifts to deliver."
At these unusual sounds, Mary roused up and blinked at the strange light. "What is it, Joseph?" And, shaken, Joseph told her, "They are shepherds and have come a long way, having been guided by a mysterious star. They wish to see the little one, my dear."
"They must be cold--and tired," Mary answered. "Bid them to come in." She sat up, right there on the hay. Startled and only half-smiling, she covered her breast and lifted up the holy child.
The shepherds came in one at a time, fearfully and humbly laying their gifts at the foot of the manger. Rude gifts--some rabbit skins, a sack of figs, a kid goat and a newborn lamb. And with shining faces, they gazed upon the sleeping child, the Christ to come, and knelt down on the hay and worshiped him. (End of today's story)
I had no hay to walk upon, but a lovely home where so many of my grandchildren and children and their mates were present. We are all worshippers of the Holy One and love Christmastime to especially remember how Christ was born, in a manger, with shepherds and a indisputable star. Now, we are far from Bethlehem, but never far from the One who came to us on a starlit night.
May the Lord guide you in your precious life, just as a star guided the world to his side.
Jo INMN
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