Show the nativity by H 1 I phillips A at r THAT ti time in e there went fort tl a decree from the caesars caesara tha the whole hole world should be enrolled catalogued cataloguer catalo gued and hewn to a pattern that there should be a census of re sources and arms and philosophies hies and all went to be enrolled everi one unto un to his own city and josept also went up from galilee gaillee out of thi city of nazareth into judea Is called bethlehem because he wai of the house and family of david t be enrolled with mary his es ea doused wife who was with child and it came to pass that when they were there her days were accomplished that she should be delivered and she brought forth her first born child and wrapped him la in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them at the inn and there was a darkness over the inn now sounds of quarreling and across the lighted windows lunged clumsy figures shouting the warlords war lords were in the inn sumptuously quartered lolling in fine chairs in their feet muddy boots on the beds the dictators were there too they had taken the wh whole ole first floor months ahead and were now bellowing orders to the servants and they could be heard complaining that their patience was being exhausted greed was in the inn sprawled across a great bed covetousness and cupidity were wera r swaggering W ag gering about the hall laughing coarsely hatred had taken over a double room and could be heard snarling at envy and intolerance who claimed to have a prior right to the large chamber with double windows and in the corridors of the first farsi floor a great bully of a man slashing about with a sword reviling his companions P pan ions and boasting of some book he had written about conquering all mankind and reducing those who did not agree with him to slavery this man was called conquest and he was demanding a great front suite where he could have more breathing space and nowhere within the tan inn was there love kindliness faith hope or charity now there were in the country humble people with no hate in their hearts keeping the faith watching over their own and affrighted by the horrors that were about them am and by the drone of bombers that passed overhead blotting out the glory 0 of the stars and they were weary 0 of ultimatums ultima tums and threats and challenge and counter challenge am and sick of heart at the corruption of 0 mind and spirit L agel and behold an angel of the lord stood over them and the brightness of god shone round and said fear not for behold I 1 bring you good tiding great joy that shall be to all people for this day is bom to you a saviour who is christ the lord in the city of david and who Is the prince of peace the deliverer of the afflicted and the christ of love and tolerance and this shall be a sign unto you you shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising s ing god and saying glory to god I 1 in the highest and on earth peace good will toward men and they came cam with haste and found the infant lying in the manger and the arrogant within the inn were silenced and the drone of the ships of destruction sw sweeping overhead was no more neither were there sounds of distant cannonading canno to their ears came only the breathing of the cattle and the first cries ol of the christ child and they understood the words that had beer spoken to them |