The Padre’s Column

Observation Post, Volume 1, Issue 30, 11 December 1942, Page 6

The Padre’s Column

CHRISTMAS. In a few more days we will be celebrating ! Christmas. Nearly 2000 years ago a Babe was born in the little Eastern town of Bethlehem. His Mother was a humble village lass who had made no claims to fame. The doors of the inn were closed to her in her hour of need, and only in a stable could shelter be found wherein to bring forth her child. His first cradle was a manger. Dumb animals were his first associates. Yet now, nearly twenty centuries later, the people of the world keep festival. Why? We are told that shepherds watching their flocks by night, were startled by a strange incident. They saw a light shining in their midst, and they were afraid ! Then a voice said, “Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.” It seemed that a great choir was singing ‘‘Glory ,to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, goodwill toward men.” Thus was the great news first given to humble mennews that a Saviour had come as a tiny, helpless babe. His was no ordinary life. In Him, God was showing Himself to the World. Never before had the divine and the earthly met in such complete and wondrous > form. Heaven’s greatest glory had touched the Earth ! - Through all the years that have been and gone, the coming of the Chris Child has stirred the hearts of men, The Christmas season breathes anew each year its spirit of hope and loveliness. Year by year the angel song is repeated and we hear again ‘‘the good

tidings of great joy.” Tidings of peace on earth and goodwill toward men. Strange isn’t it that such a message ' should sound in our ears above the noisy clash of war? All about us are J the evidences of conflict and of strife.' There is little of peace and goodwill, much of battle and of hatreds, but still we keep this festival; not as one which present events have stripped of all its meaning, but as one so charged with radiant hope that its harmony rings out above the discords of our day. True, a bloody tyranny has taken hold of men and nations. But, equally true, and of greater significance for the world, Mary Child was born ! Eight centuries before the stable at Bethlehem gave its kindly shelter to a Mother and her Babe, a great Hebrew leader declared, “Behold, a Virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel,” or ‘‘God with us.” It came to pass that night in Bethlehem. God Himself came into our midst and took . his dwelling place among mankind and holds it still! 'Let us never forget, least of all at Christmas time, that in spite of the bitterness and fury of men, God is with uswith all His people. He who chose the simple beauty of a baby’s birth to unfold the splendour of His power, sends forth His Heralds of the peace that yet shall be. He calls us from the roar and clash of strife to rest our eyes upoil a manger crib—upon a Babe Whose veiy tender- ; ness is mightier than all the tools of [war, Whose love shall break the powers of Mars. ‘‘Behold I bring you good tidings of ! great joy, for unto you is born this day, i a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. ’ ’ I