Soon Advent will end and Christmas will come once more.
Every year I try to think back to that dark night, a frightened young woman, her first Child. Darkness, who knows what kind of dangers lurking in an unfamiliar city?
As a man, my thoughts often center on Joseph. Trying to help, not sure what to do... Mary crying out in pain, wanting to comfort her, the fears that must have gone through his mind. What if she dies? That is a very common thing in those days. He could not feed the Baby! He had no money to hire a wet-nurse.
This dark smelly scene doesn't quite match our glorious creches enveloped in incense during our crowded, candle lit Midnight Masses. The gleaming Angels and Shepherds are not yet arrived. Only Mary, Joseph and pain and darkness.
There is no place in our lives that Jesus hasn't been. From the fear and darkness of that first Nativity, to the heights of the Mount of Transfiguration.
Joesph found that out, God was there, all was well, Darkness fled the newborn Light.
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