The story is old and every Christmas, retold.
The characters of the tale are
a play we have seen performed.
But they speak to us in personal questioning
of our own encounter of the Saviour-Baby.

Mary, young girl of innocence,
surrendering her very existence to the
Holy Spirit of God's Fatherhood.
Her entire future and security put in jeopardy,
her purity forever questioned in her lifetime . . . yet she said,
"Be it done unto me according to Your Word."

Joseph, trusting utterly his instructions by dreams,
willing to be the brunt of scandal along with Mary,
losing his reputation for all his lifetime . . . for Jesus.

Playing his part on this stage of an Eternal Drama,
obedient to the last detail.
Even to the loss of his home for the Child's protection.
Egypt, place of safety, but also a land strange and foreign
to his Jewish heritage.

By the time of his adopted-son's public ministry,
Joseph had passed into obscurity, needed no more.
He served his time and then was gone . . . .

Shepherds knew it first.
They who lived with their flocks,
shared their cold and danger.
Angelic privilege, given to them who would
comprehend the Divine Shepherd.

Wise men - nobility seeking a baby king
by the costly travel of months,
following an abnormal star.
Finding the humble babe, poor and unknown,
lying in a common animal trough,
the princely ones bowed and worshiped with
lavish gifts out of their riches,
brought for that very purpose.

Kneeling as Kings of Eastern unbelief,
acknowledging the Greatest Monarch.

Mary, Joseph . . . shepherds, kings. What do they say to us?

Mary, picture of the indwelling Christ.
Jesus, given to us to reside within,
personal and living!
Amazing Presence of the Very God,
literally abiding in the secret home of our heart and spirit.
Is He resident IN you?
Do you know Him as Living Inside?

Joseph, unacclaimed servant of the Child-King
he protected and raised with awe . . . .
Giving his existence away for the sake of
God's Own Son.
Are YOU the servant of that Holy Babe?

Shepherds of humility, living a common life.
Will you, in your normalcy, welcome Him
to be YOUR Personal Shepherd,
dwelling with your empty nights,
and walking through your ordinary days . . .
always WITH you?

Kings of earth's exalting,
will you bow your head to make Him
King of your throne?

Jesus split the world of time in half and
He is the challenge of every life and the enigma of our destiny.
He came and forever we are confronted by His Name.
Beautiful and unfathomable, the Son of God's Pleasure,
was born a human like Mary, a Servant like Joseph,
a Shepherd and a King
. . .for you!

We pray for you a Christmas filled with Christ and His Joyous Love for you.

Copyright © 1999 Martha Kilpatrick