In the days of Herod the King, the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph; and the virgin's name was Mary.
And the angel said, Thou shalt bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be called the Son of the Highest: and of his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord. And the angel departed from her.
It came to pass that there went out a decree that all the world should be taxed, every one in his own city. And Joseph went up from Nazareth to the city called Bethlehem, to be taxed with Mary his wife, being great with child. And she brough forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
There were in the same country shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night. And the angel of the Lord came upon them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: I bring you good tidings of great joy. For unto you is born a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clotes, lying in a manger. Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host saying, Glory to God in the highets, and on eafrth peace, good will toward men.
This is the most beautiful story I know, taken from the world's most important book. God saw his creatures and saw that we needed to be saved from evil. And in his almight love for us he opened the gate of Paradise from the inside and came out to us humans, born like a poor child in a manger in Bethlehem. Born by God's love to give the world hope. This is what give me strength to live my life, day by day. This is what gives me hope, trust and eternal love.
Our Christmas Day started with a mass in the Nidaros Cathedral where I met God's love story again, and I could take part in the world choir singing the praise of God the Almight. The rest of the day has been spend as we do every Christmas, with a family party at my parents house. 12 around the table for three full meals, dinner, coffee and supper, dancing around the Christmas tree singing the old merry Christmas dances, playing board games, guessing quizes and having a wonderful time. We are blessed with a big and loving family. The photo is of one of my many mangers. This one was bought in Avignon in Provence a few years ago, and I got three new figures in my Christmas stocking this morning. Terje was in Avignon this fall, and bought me the three vise men. Provence have a very special traditions with mangers, called Crèches at Santons en terre provencale (I will write more about that tradition later) I also have two photos for you from our tables yesterday, the lunchtable when we had rice porride, and part of the dinner table.