An Imaginative Retelling of the Christmas Story
Narrated by Gabriel, Joseph and Mary, Elizabeth, and the Innkeeper’s Wife
Installments are in reverse order; the latest to be posted is first on this page.
GABRIEL Learns of the Divine Plan
I am the archangel Gabriel, reporting to none other than God Himself as I carry out my duties. Because I am close to the seat of God, I know, usually before any of the other angels, what the Divine orders will be. But I must admit that the summons for all the ranks of angels to gather before the Throne came as a complete surprise. When we had come together, the Holy One spoke.
“I have something important to tell you,” He said. A great hush fell over the assembled angels, their wings folding in humble expectancy. The music of their murmured songs, normally accompanying them everywhere, was silent.
“We have decided,” He told us, “that the Son will go to earth.” He paused. “It will be different than sending you, Michael or Gabriel, to carry a message. He will bear a message, of course, but He will live among the people there. The Son of God will be born the Son of Man.”
Born? We could hardly grasp what the Holy One was saying. Our Lord would become a human child? Surely we did not understand correctly.
He knew our thoughts. “I have already promised His advent. Prophets have known for centuries that the Lord’s Anointed would someday arrive to deliver them. The time has come.”
I dared to speak for us all. “But sir, He is God! One with You since before the beginning of time! The King above all kings, the Lord of all lords! How could He possibly stoop to be one of them?”
“He will empty Himself,” God said. “Although He is completely God, He does not consider that something to hold onto and grasp tightly. He will make Himself nothing for their sakes, serving instead of being served. He will become completely man, subjecting Himself to human laws—even that of dying.”
We were stunned. It was impossible to think of the Son and death at the same time.
“That is not the whole story, of course,” God continued. “I will exalt Him again to the highest place. I will give Him a name that is above every other name—even those that He now has! He will be the Resurrection and the Life, the Firstfruit of all who have been overtaken by death. He will disarm the powers of evil, making a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross!”
We waited in numb silence. “That’s all I can tell you just now,” God said. “You may return to your places. A moment with you, Gabriel? I have something for you to do.”
(To be continued)
MaryMartha
(All rights reserved)
Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com
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