And there were in that country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.  And lo! the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them:  “Fear not; for behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy which shall be to all nations.  For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men.”  And the shepherds said one to another:  “Let us now go, even to Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass.”

So I said within myself that I also would go with the shepherds, even to Bethlehem.  And I heard a great and sweet voice, as of a bell, which said, “Come!” And when the bell had sounded twelve times, I awoke; and it was Christmas morn; and I knew that I had been in a dream.

Yet it seemed to me that the things which I had heard were true.

* * * * *

A LITTLE ESSAY

CHRISTMAS-GIVING AND CHRISTMAS-LIVING

I

The custom of exchanging presents on a certain day in the year is very much older than Christmas, and means very much less.  It has obtained in almost all ages of the world, and among many different nations.  It is a fine thing or a foolish thing, as the case may be; an encouragement to friendliness, or a tribute to fashion; an expression of good nature, or a bid for favour; an outgoing of generosity, or a disguise of greed; a cheerful old custom, or a futile old farce, according to the spirit which animates it and the form which it takes.

But when this ancient and variously interpreted tradition of a day of gifts was transferred to the Christmas season, it was brought into vital contact with an idea which must transform it, and with an example which must lift it up to a higher plane.  The example is the life of Jesus.  The idea is unselfish interest in the happiness of others.

The great gift of Jesus to the world was himself.  He lived with and for men.  He kept back nothing.  In every particular and personal gift that he made to certain people there was something of himself that made it precious.

For example, at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, it was his thought for the feelings of the giver of the feast, and his wish that every guest should find due entertainment, that lent the flavour of a heavenly hospitality to the wine which he provided.

When he gave bread and fish to the hungry multitude who had followed him out among the hills by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were refreshed and strengthened by the sense of the personal care of Jesus for their welfare, as much as by the food which he bestowed upon them.  It was another illustration of the sweetness of “a dinner of herbs, where love is.”