Holidays - Seasons Greetings!

Bethlehem lay sleeping in oblivion of the most tremendous happening that the world had known. Sleepy unbelief and scorn met the sheep-herds, as they went from door to door, crying their quest:

Where was He that was born, Christ the Lord?

Young men answered lazily that all sheep-herds were fools. Old men cackled sharply at them, berating them. They were told to go back to their flocks. Who was keeping the sheep upon the hills, that they who were paid to watch might thus disturb the night rest of their employers? Let them go back to their sheep. Perhaps the sheep were even now being stolen. Who knew but these faithless ones were in collusion with the robbers and had run away to leave the sheep at their mercy?

They had seen a vision? Had heard angels?

They had slept and dreamt, like the worthless fools they were, while the sheep fell over precipices! Let them go back and count the sheep.

The Christ! Christs were being born everywhere in these days. Did not every young woman that saw a star, or dreamed twice in succession, proclaim her son to be Shiloh!

Let them go back to the sheep. If any were missing they would pay well for it.

Thus did Bethlehem-blessed with a miracle that would make men forever love her name-receive the news of her calling.

The sheep-herds were but men, ridiculed and scoffed by other men who must be wiser than they. They ceased to cry aloud and exult in the glory of their tidings. Brave men ride smiling into the grip of death. Good men are gentle and true in the face of adversity and treachery. Wise men are silent under criticism and blame. But not good men, nor wise men, nor brave men, can glory in the face of laughter and chaff.

These men did not doubt. They were not shaken.

They had seen the glory of God and their ears had heard the voice of His Angel. They had been given a sign. Their quest was sure. But they went silently now, following the sign. They had not been wise to ask of the rich ones or the great. Their sign had pointed them plainly to a stable. Probably it was the back part of some poor man’s house that had been meant.

Perhaps among the strangers, who had come to live with relations in the city for the days of the numbering, the child was born. Yes, it would be among the poor. For the poor have always many relatives and many children are born to them.

So they went silently through the ragged, choked parts of the little city, looking for a manger in which a new born child was laid. But there seemed to be none such, for all the people slept and there was no vigil in any house, as would be in the house of their search.

Had they passed the place, in darkness? Surely not.

The Christ would not be hidden from them. They had a sign. But they had gone through all the village now and there was no child.

Hold! One saw a light. It was a light which their eyes knew. It was of the same light in which they had seen the Angel of the Lord. Out of the very hillside it seemed to come.

First they ran, then walked slowly, then held back urging each the other forward. Now their quest was sure, for this was beyond doubt the light of the Heavenly vision, but their knees trembled and their feet were timid on the hillside; for fear was upon them so that they hardly dared move, one before the other.

It was the house of a poor man whose kinsman had come from afar to remain during the days of the counting. And because the house was already full this kinsman was abiding in the stable. The matter was very plain. Just so all Bethlehem was housing its poor relations during these crowded days.

Fearfully, their tongues stilled, their souls awed, the men came into the half circle of light on the open side of the stable.

They saw a young Mother, in whose eyes the light of God shone through tears turned to joy, resting upon a pallet of straw.

They saw a man, with the stoop of toil in his shoulders, leaning over the manger.

They saw in the manger, the Child.

The Light revealed it to them. The Angel at their side whispered it in their ear. As they knelt adoring their own lips said it-It is Christ the Lord.

The King had begun the founding of his Kingdom in the hearts of the lowly of earth.