Fr Noel's Nativity

Nativity Scene over the years………a work in progress
by

Fr Noel Rucastle

In the Christian tradition, a nativity scene is the special exhibition,
particularly during the Christmas season, of art objects representing
the birth of Jesus. While the term "nativity scene" may be used of any
representation of the very common subject of the Nativity of Jesus in

art, it has a more specialized sense referring to seasonal displays
using model figures.

Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first live nativity
scene in 1223 in order to cultivate the worship of Christ. He himself
had recently been inspired by his visit to the Holy Land, where he'd

been shown Jesus' traditional birthplace.
Distinctive nativity scenes and traditions have been created around

the world, and are displayed during the Christmas season in
churches, homes, shopping malls, and other venues, and occasionally

on public lands and in public buildings.

Egypt - The flight into Egypt

The flight into Egypt is a biblical event described in the Gospel of
Matthew. Soon after the visit by the Magi, who had learned that King
Herod intended to kill the infants of that area, an angel appeared to
Joseph in a dream to tell him to flee to Egypt with Mary and infant son
Jesus.
The Flight to Egypt - Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of
the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the
Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell
you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.”
So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still
night, and left for Egypt. He remained there until the death of Herod.
This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the
prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”
Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he
became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who
were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under,
according to the time which he had determined from the magi.

Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was
fulfilled:

“A voice was heard in Ramah,
Weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children;
And she refused to be comforted,
Because they were no more.”

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a
dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,

“Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel;
for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.”

So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the
land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over
Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there.

Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of
Galilee, and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfil
what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a
Nazarene.”
Matthew 2:13–23

The Visit of the Magi

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod
the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is
He who has been born King of the Jews?
For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” When
Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with
him.
Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he
inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.

They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been
written by the prophet:
‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah;
For out of you shall come forth a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the
exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and
said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found
Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.

” After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they
had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood
over the place where the Child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After
coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and
they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their
treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and
myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to
Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.
Matthew 2:13–23

Cana

Where Jesus would eventually perform his first miracle.
"A prophetic piece....”
Jesus Changes Water Into Wine - On the third day a wedding took
place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his
disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was
gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet
come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for
ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus
said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the
brim. Then he told them,

“Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They
did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been
turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though
the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the
bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first
and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to
drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs
through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers
and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
John 2:1-12

Jerusalem

When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named
Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived him
in the womb.
When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of
Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the
Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to
be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with
what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young
pigeons.”

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous
and devout.
He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was
on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would
not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents
brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law
required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss[c] your
servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in
the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the
glory of your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is
destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a
sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts
will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe
of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven
years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-
four.She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting
and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks
to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to
the redemption of Jerusalem.
Luke 2:21-38

Roman Theatre

Archaeologists have discovered an ancient Roman theatre near to the
Western Wall in Jerusalem.
The 200-seat arena was discovered eight metres underground, along
with a large section of the Western Wall that had been buried
underground for 1,700 years.
The discovery was made under Wilson’s Arch in Jerusalem’s ancient
Old City.
Bible passage describing burning of Jerusalem is historically
accurate
During the time of the Second Temple, which was destroyed in 70 CE,
Wilson’s Arch was part of a raised walkway used by worshippers
entering and exiting the holy site. Below it was a road containing
shops and water drainage systems. The area was covered around
360 BC when earthquake damage led residents to fill the arch with
debris to prevent it collapsing.
Archaeologists said the round, classical Roman-style theatre was a
significant find.
“The discovery of the theatre-like structure is a real drama,” said Dr
Joe Uziel, one of the excavators. "From a research perspective, this is
a sensational find. The discovery was a real surprise: we did not
imagine that a window would open for us onto the mystery of
Jerusalem’s lost theatre.
“Like much of archaeological research, the expectation is that a
certain thing will be found, but at the end of the process other
findings – surprising and thought-provoking – are unearthed.”

Nazareth

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a
census be taken of all [a]the inhabited earth. This was the first census
taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his
way to register for the census, each to his own city.Joseph also went
up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of
David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and
family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was
engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days
were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her
firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a
manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:1-7

The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should
be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that
took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone
went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea,
to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house
and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was
pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they
were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth
to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a
manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping
watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to
them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were
terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you
good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the
town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the
Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths
and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the
angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds
said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has
happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who
was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the
word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all
who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But
Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things
they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.