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Show GLORIA Hi EXCEL5IS DEO i I "IVY HEN Mary and Joseph undertook their memorable journey fY from Nazareth to Bethlehem nearly two thousand years ago, Palestine was a peaceful and reasonably prosperous country. But the heart of Israel was filled with longing and uneasiness; longing for the Messiah who, according to the prophets, the Lord had promised His chosen people; the Messiah who would deliver them from their trials and tribulations even as Moses had led their forefathers out of the bondage of Egypt. And now it came to pass that Caesar Augustus had decided all the world should be taxed and every man should be enrolled, each in his native city. And it happened that Joseph, who lived in Nazareth, was a native of Bethlehem. In those days, there was no macadam highway leading from the Galilean hillside into Bethlehem, Bethle-hem, the city of David which nestled in the blue-green mountains south of Jerusalem, and under ideal conditions Bethlehem was several days' journey from Nazareth. So, Mary and Joseph started for Bethlehem about the middle of December. They carried a little food with them for emergencies, a little extra clothing and some bedding. They traveled very slowly because of Mary and when she was too tired to walk another step, Joseph took the packs upon his shoulders so Mary might ride the little donkey which trudged faithfully at his side. THE little village of Bethlehem was about six miles from Jerusalem. Jeru-salem. Those last six miles were the longest and hardest for Mary: the mountain trail was steep and treacherous, the atmosphere 'was lighter than the travelers from Galilee were accustomed to, and they were very tired and travel-weary when they reached Bethlehem the city of David where Joseph's ancestor King David had ruled fourteen generations before Augustus and his census. It was early evening, but the inn was already crowded beyond its normal capacity with census-bound census-bound travelers; not even a corner was available where Joseph could have spread a bed for Mary. In desperation Joseph pleaded from door to door and with those whom he passed as he raced through the narrow streets of Bethlehem in search of shelter. Finally, someone directed him to a stable which was really a cave hewn into the rocky ledge of the mountainside. The stable to which Joseph led Mary was well supplied with clean straw; and Mary was grateful for shelter and privacy: it was Holy Night. There was no room at the inn that night, but over in Shepherds' field, about two miles south of Bethlehem, several Shepherds were keeping the "night watch" over their flocks when suddenly a great blaze of light appeared in the sky and seemed to descend upon the countryside. The Shepherds were very frightened and, devout men that they were, they called upon God to help them. When they raised their eyes from supplication, the glory of the Lord shone all around them and an angel stood in their midst assuring them there was nothing to fear: "For, Behold, 1 bring you glad tydings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you, Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, high-est, and on earth peace, good will toward men." THE Shepherds hurried to Bethlehem, there to find the Infant asleep in the manger even as it had been foretold unto them. His "Stable" was filled with a heavenly radiance, and, having worshipped wor-shipped the Child, the Shepherds were filled with a wondrous feeling of peace. And the Shepherds wondered and told others concerning con-cerning those things which they had seen and heard. Several days later, a richly appointed caravan wove its way through the crooked streets of Bethlehem bearing Wise Men from the east who, following the Star of Bethlehem which they had seen from afar, had come to adore the new-born King. And the Star led them, until it came and stood over the manger where the Child was. The Wise Men rejoiced when they saw the Holy Infant lying in the manger and they adored Him. They ordered gifts to be brought from their caravan: gifts symbolic of what Jesus was to become gold for a king, myrrh for a great physician, frankincense for a high priest. All Bethlehem crowded around awestruck and curious; but Mary pondered all these things in her heart and watched over the Child with great diligence. And that is the way it came to pass that Jesus was born in Bethlehem: it could not have come to pass in any other way. Before the sacred manger all men are equal and only from a lowly stable could the Saviour draw unto Himself all who are weary and heavy-laden. heavy-laden. And truly only the heavenly host could praise God that first Christmas night: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Dorothea Waitzmann. |