I look forward every Christmas season to unwrapping my ever growing collection of nativities. I’ve a tiny but elegant one from Italy, an old fashioned cardboard stable with the chipped figures glued inside, Richard’s figurines from a childhood set but the most elaborate has belonged to my family since I was born! It continues to thrill me to find Baby Jesus safely nestled in the manger. Who isn’t touched by the birth of a baby? But He was not just any baby! Even while Mary carried Him in her womb, His worth could not be hidden!
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" Luke 1:41-45
Even the roughest, simplest of my crèche collection gives me a shiver of excitement when I think of those who actually witnessed the most important night of man’s fallen history! I’m reminded of one dark night some of our church friends stopped by to alert us that the Northern Lights were visible. I was so excited I nearly stepped on a skunk when I charged out the back door in my pajamas! The lights were amazing -- like big searchlights reaching up into the sky. Then they shifted and shimmered like a rippling curtain of light, silent but ever changing. Such special effects should be accompanied by majestic praise music. Were such heavenly lights background to the angelic messenger who startled the shepherds?
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:8-14
Does ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ take you back to that celebration? May the glory of Christ’s birthday thrill you anew as you unpack your Christmas treasures.
Love as always, Elaine (decking the halls!)
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