Come to Bethlehem

Come to Bethlehem

In the middle

of this busy season – stop.

Come to Bethlehem.

See a newborn baby.

Small and vulnerable,

in a humble feeding trough.

wrapped in soft cloths.

Hear the sounds.

Mary’s lullaby.

The cows soft lowing.

A dove cooing.

Smell fresh hay

wiffs of smoke

from a warming fire.

Hold the baby.

Feel His weight.

Rest your cheek on his head.

Be there in the presence

of the tiny baby who is Jesus.

Come to Bethlehem.

Adore Him.

***

Luke 2:15

When the angels had left them

and gone into heaven,

the shepherds said,

“Let’s go to Bethlehem

and see this thing that has happened,

which the Lord has told us about.”

***

Eugene Peterson

Birth, every birth,

is an occasion for local wonder.

In Jesus’ birth the wonder

is extrapolated across the screen

of all creation and all

history as God-birth. . .

Incarnation, in-flesh-ment,

God in human form in Jesus

entering our history:

this is what started Christmas.

This is what keeps Christmas going.