Christmas Eve when I was seven or eight was cold, but clear. Stars shone in the night sky, and then snow started to fall, softly, lazily, the flakes drifted down. We were on the way to Church for the Christmas Children’s Service, and since Father's farm abutted the village on the north and a bit on the east, we lived within walking distance. Snow flakes falling, and I remember the windows of the Church glowing through the night, and then as we came near, the bells rang out. What a wonderful sound on the frosty air.
Then the Service, and the school children sang familiar songs and recited the ancient story. “And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered, and she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger: because there was no room for them in the inn”. Luke 2, 6.7.
After the Service each child received a bag with nuts, candy, an orange, and a small gift from the teacher, perhaps a book. Then off for home. Father had rushed ahead, lighted the tree and placed packages under the tree, and when we came home, we opened them and had a fine family time. Mother had a plate of cookies, and we had some milk. Then off to bed, for the morning came soon enough and chores needed to be done. Then off again for Christmas Day Church Service.
But of course then I had no idea what kind of a world it was that Jesus was born into. Rome ruled. Rome ruled from the Atlantic on the west to the Euphrates on the east, from the Rhine and Danube on the north, to the Sahara desert on the south. All Rome needed was the taxes, and they had a system in place for that too.
So, when Caesar called for a census, no one knew or understood that he was really God’s agent to see that the prophecy would be fulfilled to the letter. Sure Augustus was powerful. Men trembled at his word and lost their heads at his command. Yet here he is doing what GOD wanted done.
It is always so. Amid the pomp and ceremony, the powerful make their boast, but under the endless procession God is at work, tirelessly and carefully bringing the lambs to the care of their Shepherd, leading people to faith in Christ as their Savior, opening eyes to see that wonderful message of salvation that this birth brings to the world, carrying out God’s Plan exactly, on time. For us.
Family for Christmas gave me a copy of the N Y Times dated the day of my birth. No mention of China or India, trouble in the Balkans, unrest in Ireland, the DOW at 38, and a report that a waitress carrying a piece of pie and a dish of ice cream slipped, and in trying to catch her balance the ice cream landed on the pie and she served it, pie-a-la-mode was born!
BUT, The Birth reminds us that “God is not dead, nor does He sleep; the wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth”. That peace which man has with God because sins are forgiven because Jesus Christ “made peace through the blood of His cross” Col. 1,20. That is my Christmas message of hope and joy in this world you and I are living in. May God bless each.
GPD 12/22/09
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