Day 16: The Christmas Thief: An Advent Calendar in Prose

 

The Christmas Thief

An Advent Calendar in Prose

Day 16

Barnaby joined the noisy throng heading toward the church. Father Brown offered a morning mass for those too old or infirm to make it to Midnight Mass. The sorrowful Jesus hung over his head watching the woebegone congregation as they heard the old story of the miraculous birth. Here and there, a handkerchief was raised to a wrinkled cheek.

About that time Emperor Augustus gave orders for the names of all the people to be listed in record books. These first records were made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to go to their own hometown to be listed. So Joseph had to leave Nazareth in Galilee and go to Bethlehem in Judea. Long ago Bethlehem had been King David’s hometown, and Joseph went there because he was from David’s family.

Mary was engaged to Joseph and traveled with him to Bethlehem. She was soon going to have a baby, and while they were there, she gave birth to her first-born son. She dressed him in baby clothes and laid him on a bed of hay because there was no room for them in the inn.

Barnaby looked from the cross to the creche and shook his head. Chumps.

Barnaby spotted Mama and Baby Girl in the nave worshiping among the gray and bent heads. Baby Girl clutched her teddy bear. When the line stretched up the aisle for communion, Mama joined the queue. Baby girl wiggled for a minute in the seat then quietly slipped up the aisle to the creche. While the parishioners received the Host, she slipped her teddy bear into the manger. She turned to leave, then stopped and placed a kiss on the bear’s nose. She returned to her pew before her mama returned. 

Barnaby stepped behind a pillar as the congregation dispersed. The priest blessed the stragglers. No one else had noticed the bear in the manger. Barnaby slipped out into the crisp air.

Leading: Isaiah 11:6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat,

the calf, and the lion and the yearling together, and a little child will lead them. (NIV)

Challenge: Little children are full of wisdom. Take a moment today to watch or listen to a little child. Go where they lead. Donate to a charity that supports children.