Friday December 25th, 2015 The Nativity of Our Lord; Christmas Day Luke 2:1-20
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger? (verse 7)
At this time of year there are so many images of the nativity scene. Yet in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem there are no pictures or crches of Christ’s birth.
The place where Jesus is thought to have been born is in a side room. There is a recessed space in one wall where on the floor there is a serrated golden circle, which is said to be the spot where Jesus was delivered. A few feet away is a small room where the manger was located. The steps that lead down into this room are worn concave by the millions of feet of those who have come to this spot. They have come to honour the babe who, being God, emptied himself to take on human flesh and to be born among us as one of us, first appearing in this place.
Jesus and his family from Bethlehem moved on into the world. Even now Jesus comes into our lives and hearts. He comes to fill the empty places with his love and presence. So we honour and worship Christ where we are, glad that by grace the circle of his coming is within us.
We worship and welcome you, O Jesus. Amen. — JW-H
Contributed by Circle of Christ’s Birth
At this time of year there are so many images of the nativity scene. Yet in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem there are no pictures or crches of Christ's birth.
The place where Jesus is thought to have been born is in a side room. There is a recessed space in one wall where on the floor there is a serrated golden circle, which is said to be the spot where Jesus was delivered. A few feet away is a small room where the manger was located. The steps that lead down into this room are worn concave by the millions of feet of those who have come to this spot. They have come to honour the babe who, being God, emptied himself to take on human flesh and to be born among us as one of us, first appearing in this place.
Jesus and his family from Bethlehem moved on into the world. Even now Jesus comes into our lives and hearts. He comes to fill the empty places with his love and presence. So we honour and worship Christ where we are, glad that by grace the circle of his coming is within us.
