Estelle & Robert: To Know Him

Glory to God in the Highest!

Robert leaned on his elbows, flopped on his stomach in the darkness. Although the town was full of the Pharisees, Scribes and Publicans, in the two days they had been there, he had not yet heard any outburst of praise as he had that night. What could be going on?

Neither child had any clue that the light that lit the heavens wasn't the moon, and closer then that could imagine Jesus was adored and worshiped by strangers from a foreign country with gifts so precious, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock 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 good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 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 it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us."

And they came with haste and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

When the child was circumcised at eight days, He was named Jesus, just as the angel had told them to call Him before He was even conceived in the womb. And when Mary had fulfilled the Mosaic law of purification, she and Joseph brought Jesus to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord, as the law of the Lord stated, "Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord." Joseph smiled as he held their offering. This was the most joyous offering he had ever offered in his life, a pair of turtledoves.

A clack of a cane against the temple cobblestones broke the young couple's reverie, turning towards the aged man, hobbling towards them. His name was Simon, a just and devout man, long waiting for the consolation of Israel, the Holy Ghost upon him, and so it was that the Spirit of the Lord had assured him that he would not die until he had seen Jesus, the Christ.