메리크리스마스

  • InthosedaysCaesarAugustusissuedadecreethatacensusshouldbetakenof
  • theentireRomanworld.
  • (ThiswasthefirstcensusthattookplacewhileQuiriniuswasgovernorofSyria.)
  • Andeveryonewenttohisowntowntoregister.
  • SoJosephalsowentupfromthetownofNazarethinGalileetoJudea,toBethlehem
  • thetownofDavid,becausehebelongedtothehouseandlineofDavid.
  • HewenttheretoregisterwithMary,whowaspledgedtobemarriedtohimandwas
  • expectingachild.
  • Whiletheywerethere,thetimecameforthebabytobeborn,
  • andshegavebirthtoherfirstborn,ason.Shewrappedhiminclothsandplacedhiminamanger,becausetherewasnoroomforthemintheinn.
  • Andtherewereshepherdslivingoutinthefieldsnearby,keepingwatchover
  • theirflocksatnight.
  • AnangeloftheLordappearedtothem,andthegloryoftheLordshonearound
  • them,andtheywereterrified.
  • Buttheangelsaidtothem,"Donotbeafraid.Ibringyougoodnewsofgreatjoy
  • thatwillbeforallthepeople.
  • TodayinthetownofDavidaSaviorhasbeenborntoyou;heisChristtheLord.
  • Thiswillbeasigntoyou:Youwillfindababywrappedinclothsandlyinginamanger."
  • Suddenlyagreatcompanyoftheheavenlyhostappearedwiththeangel,praisingGodandsaying,
  • "GlorytoGodinthehighest,andonearthpeacetomenonwhomhisfavorrests."
  • Whentheangelshadleftthemandgoneintoheaven,theshepherdssaidtooneanother,"Let’sgotoBethlehemandseethisthingthathashappened,whichtheLordhastoldusabout."
  • SotheyhurriedoffandfoundMaryandJoseph,andthebaby,whowaslyinginthe
  • manger.
  • Whentheyhadseenhim,theyspreadthewordconcerningwhathadbeentoldthem
  • aboutthischild,
  • andallwhohearditwereamazedatwhattheshepherdssaidtothem.
  • ButMarytreasuredupallthesethingsandponderedtheminherheart.
  • Theshepherdsreturned,glorifyingandpraisingGodforallthethingstheyhadheard
  • andseen,whichwerejustastheyhadbeentold.