“She was much perplexed at hearing him speak so, and cast about in her mind what she was to make of such a greeting. Then the messenger said to her, `Mary, do not be afraid; you have found favour in the sight of God. And behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and you shall bear a son, and shall call Him Jesus. He shall be great, and men will know Him for the Son of the Most High; the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He shall reign over the house of Jacob eternally. His kingdom shall never end.’

“But Mary said to the messenger, `How can that be since I have no knowledge of man?” And the messenger answered her, `The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Thus this holy offspring of yours shall be known as the Son of God.’ And Mary said, `Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be unto me according to you word.’ And with that the messenger left her (Luke 1, 26-38).

A BABY IS BORN

While these events were happening, the world went its way. Men lived and died. They ate and slept; they cheated and robbed; they fought and quarreled; they killed each other in anger and hatred.

But in an obscure village, known to a few only, in time, Mary’s Son was due to be born. No one took any notice or paid any attention. It was not yet time for the Father to make known His Son.

The simple and beautiful story of Christ’s birth – the story of the first Christmas – can be read in the second chapter of Luke’s Gospel.

“It happened,” writes Luke, “that a decree went out at this time from the Emperor Augustus, enjoining that the whole world should be registered. This register was the first one made during the time when Cyrinus was governor of Syria . All must go and give in their names, each in his own city; and Joseph being of David’s clan and family, came up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city in Judea , the city called Bethlehem , to give in his name there.

“With him was his espoused wife Mary, who was then in her pregnancy; and it was while they were still there that the time came for her delivery. She brought forth a son, her first-born, whom she wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and laid in a feed-box for animals, because there was no room for them in the inn.

“In the same country there were shepherds awake in the fields, keeping night-watch over their flocks. And all at once an angel of the Lord came and stood by them so that they were overcome with fear. But the angel said to them, `Do not be afraid; behold, I bring you good news of great rejoicing for the whole people. This day in the city of David , a Saviour has been born for you, the Lord Christ Himself. This is the sign by which you are to know Him: you will find a Child still in swaddling-clothes, lying in a feedbox.’ Then, suddenly, a multitude of the heavenly army appeared to them at the angel’s side, giving praise to God, and saying, `Glory to God in high heaven, and peace on earth to men that are God’s friends.” (Luke 2, 1-20)

HARD TO BELIEVE

This little child – born in a cave for animals on the side of a hill because no one would give a place to Mary, His mother and Joseph, His guardian – is Jesus Christ.