| Show CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS Christmas which Is celebrated annually annu-ally commemorates the nativity ot the Savior of tho world the redeemer of I the human race Tho event took iian I at the time and place foretold by the prophets of old The Prophet Mlchcas predicted more than 200 years prior to the event that the Messiah would be born In Bethlehem For the fulfillment bf the prophecy the political I arrangements arrange-ments of Caesar Augustus became 1 subservient sub-servient At the time Mary and Joseph lived in Galilee By virtue of Caesars edict of enrollment every Jewish family fam-ily was obliged to return to their original orig-inal homes Joseph who was of the house and family of David had to come r to Judea Mary hill espoused wife accompanied ac-companied him After reaching Bethlehem the Gospel Informs us what took place The divine di-vine infant who Is born at the time must be also enrolled The Roman Empire Em-pire exercises universal sway over ail Its conquered territories pencpls proclaimed pro-claimed and In the niystcrlous designs of providence when universal peace and good will exist the child of promise Is born and Caesar Augustus inscribes his name upon those tables In which were registered the names of oIU and young To this register Justlnus referred re-ferred when arguing with the pagan world regarding the time and place of Christs birth You may assure yourselves your-selves II he wrote of the fact by 1 the tables of assessment or the census drawn up In the time of Cyrinus Ter tulllnn also appealed to the census when the question of the Saviors lineage vas questioned He wrote You may ascertain ascer-tain his race and lineage by the census of Augustus which Is a faithful testimony testi-mony oC the divine birth preserved In your own archives The obscurity and poverty which surround sur-round his nativity In Bethlehem find relief In his fIrst manifestation to the Jews and Gentiles To the former as represented by the shepherds his entrance en-trance Into the world Is announced by angels to the latter In the person of the Magi by i a mfraculous star whIch guides and directs their pilgrimage from the far East to Bethlehem What occurred oc-curred on the first Christmas brings before be-fore the mind two orders of events as astounding as they are apparently contradictory con-tradictory obscurity and the greatest conceivable glory poverty and celestial riches Gods secret designs arc too high to be reached by worldly wisdom Here Is the great stumbling block that has tested the faith oC the world In all past ages Gods designs when not revealed re-vealed are beyond mans reasoning powers The simplicity of the Gospel narrative vouches for Its truth All the circumstances circum-stances connected with Bethlehem have bewildered the world for twenty centuries centu-ries Mary and Joseph entering Bethlehem Beth-lehem are strangers are denied admission admis-sion to an Inn seek shelter In a deserted de-serted stable whero the only begotten son of the Father Is born There la no public announcement made to tho citizens citi-zens of Bethlehem It occurred In an obscure deserted i place To add to the debasement of the obscurity the artless narrative of the Gospel tells that after the divine Infant was born the mother wrapped him in swaddling clothes laid him In a manger Incredulity is shocked when told that the little Infant here presented the son of Mary Is tho son of God This mystery of supremo love surrounded by poverty has been always an enigma to the proud world lingWas Was it by mere accident that Jesus was born in a stable Devoid of faith thc answer would be yes hut Christian Chris-tian Instinct coupled with ancient pjo phecles suggests different answer and tells that it was through choice The foxes have holes the birds their nest but the Son of God had no place to rest his head He could if God so willed have anything the world could offer attendants the luxury of the greatest and richest palace and tho homage of Caesar and his senate Wes not the entire earth the work of creation I cre-ation his heavcn1 Fathers property I Then the selection of 1 a stable for 1 BO profound a mystery was simply tho choice of Infinite lovo and wisdom Why To bring himself on a level with poor suffering humanity who need sympathy How console the uoor i by 1 example If surrounded by riches rInd worldly l treasures He rejected k what Herod sought and Caesar worshipped namely Mammon In doing no he showed hs great love and mercy for suffering humanity Had he chosen otherwise oth-erwise there would be no relief nor joy for poor suffering > > humanity wiiom he wished to deliver and console The choice of a stable and a manger apparently foolish displays > Infinite wisdom The worldmade flesh reduced to this pitiable condition has attracted l around that manger for ccn twenty centuries cen-turies rich and poor alike The Her I mons preached from tho manger have appealed to many a sad and weary If not hard heart From It the most brilliant scholars and eloquent geniuses have drawn their Inspiration to calm tho turbulent pacify the discontented soften the hearts of the rlcl console tile sick and bring r eace to AAacc men of good will The very manner and swaddling clothes which denote misery and poverty are the very wonders which the world admires Through these the world was enriched Today they are tho eourcc of enrichment not only I in spirituals hut In temporals Around Christmas the rich as a rule are looking for the representative of Christ to be found in poor families They help them That Is Chrlatllke It Js an enrichment or those who arc zE r In need What richer or more consoling I soling legacy than this charitable feelIng feel-Ing that sprung from the stable and manger The spiritual enrichment brlnga more real Joy and consolation Htlll The poverty of Bethlehem lino Impoverished thc spirit of falsehood so rich In errors It subdued lie pagan world and brought pcxcu and good will to hearts that wore closed to all sympathy sym-pathy and love before The povcrtv itrlrken scene of Bethlehem has preached to the heart of humanity the most eloquent sermons that were iFOken It ha effected more than 3va4 ever accomplished before or since Its ha It-s blended together nil the discordant discord-ant elements of society as children ota whom Our a common Father we style Father it oroclalmcd peace and happiness hap-piness to all men of good will nnd the whole sermon Is contained In one word namely Love D l lILY |
