The Humility of Christmas

It was just a small low milking barn in North India. I was looking in at 4-5 long horned cows the Pastor was proudly showing me. The smell seemed stronger and the quarters a bit darker and smaller but suddenly I remembered the dark cold mornings long ago, when I woke at 4:30 to milk cows very much like these. It was to a dark and chilly Bethlehem very much like India, that Mary and Joseph had entered quietly one night 2000 years ago. There were no downy soft white sheep, nor spotlessly dressed shepherds as in our American Nativity scenes. The first Christmas came in humility and simplicity. No one knew that anything supernatural was about to happen until God sent angels to tell the shepherds working in a pasture not far away. They were the only ones invited because God wanted ordinary men to celebrate the birth of Jesus. He needed people who knew nothing of temples or priestly sacraments, but who were able to meet with angels. They learned that their village had been chosen for the birth of God's Messiah. They were astonished to hear about God's good will towards men.They came hurrying to the stable and found Jesus wrapped in humble cloth, lying in the manger. Our Father is so amazing in power and yet is so willing to come in the humility of Bethlehem. That is where we will find the gift He has given, the life of His Son!