Long ago, over 2000 years, when King Herod ruled Judea (now part of Israel), God sent the angel Gabriel to a young woman who lived in the northern town of Nazareth. The girl’s name was Mary, and she was engaged to marry Joseph.
The angel Gabriel said to Mary, “Peace be with you! God has blessed you and is pleased with you.” Mary was very surprised by this and wondered what the angel meant. The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid; God has been very kind to you. You will become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and give birth to a baby boy, and you will call him Jesus (which in Hebrew means God Saves). He will be God’s own Son and his kingdom will never end.”
Mary was very afraid, but she trusted God. “Let it happen as God chooses,” she replied to the angel. Gabriel also told Mary that her cousin, Elizabeth, who everyone thought was too old to have children, would have a baby boy whom God had chosen to prepare the way for Jesus.
At this time, the land where Mary and Joseph lived was part of the Roman Empire. The Roman Emperor, Augustus, wanted to have a list of all people in the empire, to make sure they paid their taxes. He ordered everyone to return to the town where their families originally came from, and enter their names in a register (or census). Mary and Joseph traveled a long way (about 70 miles) from Nazareth to Bethlehem, because that is where Joseph’s family was from. Most people walked, but some lucky people had a donkey to help carry the goods needed for the journey. Joseph and Mary traveled very slowly, because Mary’s baby was due to be born soon.
When they reached Bethlehem, they had problems finding somewhere to stay. Many people had come to register, and there were not enough guest rooms to accommodate the large number of people. The only place that they could find was with animals. At this time, people often kept animals in the house, especially at night, and used them as “central heating”! People normally slept on a raised/upper level floor with the animals below to give them extra warmth. So, in the place where the animals slept, Mary gave birth to Jesus, the Son of God. In those days, it was customary to wrap newborn babies tightly in a long cloth called “swaddling clothes.” Jesus bed was the manger that the animals ate their hay from.
In the hills and fields outside Bethlehem, shepherds looked after their sheep through the long night. As the new day began, suddenly an angel appeared before them, and the glory of God shone around them. The shepherds were very, very afraid, but the angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I have good news for you and everyone. Today in Bethlehem a Saviour has been born for you. You will find the baby lying in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes”.
REJOICE!!! Our Saviour has been born!!!
May God Bless You and Your Loved Ones!
The Society of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla – Board of Directors
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