THE FATHER OF JESUS
Mary and the angel Gabriel
‘Now Claire, Anabelle and Edward do you remember our agreement?’
‘Yes, papa. Our first carol is ‘Once in Royal David’s city.’ Edward is going to play his violin and Anabelle is going to play the piano.’
‘Well let us light some lanterns and sing loudly.’
The candles were lit and they all stood up and raised their voices: Do join them in singing Once in Royal David's City
‘Yes, papa. Our first carol is ‘Once in Royal David’s city.’ Edward is going to play his violin and Anabelle is going to play the piano.’
‘Well let us light some lanterns and sing loudly.’
The candles were lit and they all stood up and raised their voices: Do join them in singing Once in Royal David's City
Once in royal David’s city, Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby, in a manger for his bed.
Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of all,
And his shelter was a stable, And his cradle was a stall;
With the poor and mean and lowly, Lived on earth our Saviour holy.
For he is our childhood pattern; Day by day like us he grew;
He was little weak and helpless; Tears and smiles like us he knew;
And he feeleth for our sadness, And he shareth in our gladness.
And our eyes at last shall see him, Through his own redeeming love;
For that child so dear and gentle, Is our Lord in heaven above.
And he leads his children on, to the place where he is gone.
‘Papa! Papa!’ exclaimed Anabella.
‘What is it, Anabella?’
‘Oh do let papa continue,’ Edward said, scowling at Anabella.
‘There are so many questions in my mind, Edward. Don’t you have any questions?’
‘Now children, I don’t mind you asking a question. What is your question Anabella?’
‘Well, papa, I want to know if Jesus had a father. Mary wondered how she could be pregnant because she was not yet married to a man. Did Jesus have a father?’
‘He did not have a human father, Anabella because he already had a father. His father is God. Do you recall what the angel told Mary?’
‘He told her that Jesus would be called the Son of God,’ Edward said.
‘Yes, yes, in fact my dear ones, Adam and Eve, were not born of man but God, so God is our father, too. We are sons and daughter’s of our father in heaven; not like Jesus however, because he is God’s only begotten Son, as the Nicene Creed says, {Light of light, God of God, of one being with the Father. Nevertheless, God is our Father, too by creation.
‘Papa, do go on,’ Edward said, not understanding half of what his papa said.
JOSEPH AND MARY
Mary did become pregnant and Joseph, who was engaged to her, was deeply perplexed. He planned to severe the engagement because it would be a disgrace if it were known that she was pregnant before they were properly married. But whilst he turned over these things in his mind, the angel of the Lord spoke to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife for that which is in her womb is God’s work, not mans. ‘That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.’ Matthew 1:21-22. Waking from sleep Joseph asked no further questions but married Mary. Even so, Mary remained a virgin until Jesus was born.
‘Papa, I have a question, too,’ Edward said.
‘Well, Edward, what is your question?’
‘Why didn’t the angel speak to Joseph when he was awake? Why wait until he was asleep?’
‘That is a good question, Edward. I think the reason is this: when Joseph was asleep his mind was not distracted by all the concerns and fears he had. God often speaks to people in dreams because when they are awake they are too distracted by everyday things and worries to listen to what God wants them to know.’
Where a mother laid her baby, in a manger for his bed.
Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of all,
And his shelter was a stable, And his cradle was a stall;
With the poor and mean and lowly, Lived on earth our Saviour holy.
For he is our childhood pattern; Day by day like us he grew;
He was little weak and helpless; Tears and smiles like us he knew;
And he feeleth for our sadness, And he shareth in our gladness.
And our eyes at last shall see him, Through his own redeeming love;
For that child so dear and gentle, Is our Lord in heaven above.
And he leads his children on, to the place where he is gone.
‘Papa! Papa!’ exclaimed Anabella.
‘What is it, Anabella?’
‘Oh do let papa continue,’ Edward said, scowling at Anabella.
‘There are so many questions in my mind, Edward. Don’t you have any questions?’
‘Now children, I don’t mind you asking a question. What is your question Anabella?’
‘Well, papa, I want to know if Jesus had a father. Mary wondered how she could be pregnant because she was not yet married to a man. Did Jesus have a father?’
‘He did not have a human father, Anabella because he already had a father. His father is God. Do you recall what the angel told Mary?’
‘He told her that Jesus would be called the Son of God,’ Edward said.
‘Yes, yes, in fact my dear ones, Adam and Eve, were not born of man but God, so God is our father, too. We are sons and daughter’s of our father in heaven; not like Jesus however, because he is God’s only begotten Son, as the Nicene Creed says, {Light of light, God of God, of one being with the Father. Nevertheless, God is our Father, too by creation.
‘Papa, do go on,’ Edward said, not understanding half of what his papa said.
JOSEPH AND MARY
Mary did become pregnant and Joseph, who was engaged to her, was deeply perplexed. He planned to severe the engagement because it would be a disgrace if it were known that she was pregnant before they were properly married. But whilst he turned over these things in his mind, the angel of the Lord spoke to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife for that which is in her womb is God’s work, not mans. ‘That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.’ Matthew 1:21-22. Waking from sleep Joseph asked no further questions but married Mary. Even so, Mary remained a virgin until Jesus was born.
‘Papa, I have a question, too,’ Edward said.
‘Well, Edward, what is your question?’
‘Why didn’t the angel speak to Joseph when he was awake? Why wait until he was asleep?’
‘That is a good question, Edward. I think the reason is this: when Joseph was asleep his mind was not distracted by all the concerns and fears he had. God often speaks to people in dreams because when they are awake they are too distracted by everyday things and worries to listen to what God wants them to know.’