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. To read earlier portions of the story, scroll down and also click on “Older posts” at the bottom of the page. To read a specific section, click on its title in the column at the right. To read all sections, enter the words Christmas story in the search box at the upper left and click on Search Blog.
GABRIEL Readies the Heavenly Host
I answered the summons to the Throne eagerly. Perhaps there was news about the Son!
“Gather the hosts,” the Holy One told me. “It’s time to announce the birth!”
The Birth. I still had not been able to get my understanding around the miracle that was happening. But now that the Son was going to be born, perhaps the dreadful absence would be ended. “We miss him so. When will He know that we are waiting?”
“Later. Mary and Joseph will teach Him well. Then when He is twelve or so, He will be old enough to understand on his own. Be patient. And your task for the present is to let the world know that He has come to them. Go to the shepherds in the Judean hills.”
“Shepherds, Sir?”
“Yes. Of the many people on earth, I will make these shepherds the first who are able to see the Plan.”
JOSEPH Greets the Shepherds
Mary slept for a little while then, and I stayed awake to watch over my family. Just before dawn, I woke her, speaking softly. “Someone is here, Mary. They want to see the Baby. Is it all right?”
“Of course, let them come in. But how did they know?” They came in, shepherds from the neighboring pasturelands, eager to tell us the most amazing story:
While the men were on night watch, they had been terrified by the sudden appearance of an angel surrounded in blinding light. “Don’t be afraid!” the messenger had called out to them. “I am here to announce a great, joyful event! Just across the hills in Bethlehem, the Savior has come, the promised Messiah! When you look for Him, you will know Him because He is like you—not clothed in the regal garments of a king, but in the wrappings of a child of humble birth. He is not on a throne, but lying in a manager.” And just as the angel finished speaking, a huge angelic choir appeared, singing high praise to God and declaring that peace was now available to all who would seek it. When the angels had gone away, the sheepherders came as fast as they could to see for themselves what God had revealed to them.
The shepherds were quiet and humble when they came in, but when they left, I could hear them laughing, singing, shouting excitedly to their friends as they made their way back to the field. Clearly, they believed the coming of this baby was truly good news. What all could that mean? I thought about it a lot.
(To be continued)
MaryMartha
(All rights reserved)
Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment