Author: Nancy Ward
Favorite: Christmas in Germany
There at dawn all the shelling ceased for the first time since coming here, and an amazing, peaceful, stillness came and lasted for several minutes, with the twitter of a bird in the distance the only living sound.
Later, at sunrise, the same thing happened and lasted for almost an hour and the morning has been comparatively quiet.
Favorite: Something wonderful is about to happen
I don’t remember participating much in that Mass because I spent that hour absorbed in the Nativity scene. I considered the Wise Kings, who answered God’s call and opened their hearts to his will. The kings traveled far and waited long, in faith, to discover their Savior. How expectant they were! God got their attention with the star, and they knew something wonderful was about to happen.
Favorite: Christmas is a beginning
Jesus was born in a stable because there was no room or him in the inn. The innkeeper didn’t know that the Son of God was coming to him. He wasn’t prepared and missed a great blessing.
If the innkeeper had known what we know, he might have acted differently. The Scriptures would have acknowledged him as a participant in this great event. The gospel might read, “Jesus was born in an inn in Bethlehem, far from his home, attended by the innkeeper and the innkeeper’s wife.” Pilgrimages would bring the faithful to this famous inn instead of to the cave.
