”At
that time Caesar Augustus issued a regulation that all the world should be
taxed. It was the first census, and it was kept when Quirinius was governor of
Syria. All went to enroll themselves, every one into his own city. And Joseph,
who by his descent belonged to the house of David, went from Nazareth in
Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his
betrothed, who was expecting a child.
While
they were there, the time came for her to give birth, and she gave birth to her
son, the firstborn. She wrapped him and laid him in a manger, because there was
no room for them in the inn.
In the
same district were shepherds abiding and keeping watch over their flock by
night. Then the angel of the Lord before them and the glory of the Lord shone
around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Be not
afraid. I bring you good news of great joy, a joy for all the people. Today a
Savior has been born to you in David's city, who is Christ the Lord. And this
is the sign for you: you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and
lying in a manger. "
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of
the heavenly host praising God:
"Glory
to God in the highest and on earth peace to those he has chosen. "
When
the angels went away from them into heaven the shepherds said to one another:
"Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the
Lord has made known to us." They hurried away and found Mary and Joseph,
and the baby as lying in the manger. When they had seen it, they told what had
been told them concerning this child. All who heard it were amazed at what the
shepherds said. Mary kept all these things in her heart and pondered it. And
the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and
seen everything was as it had been said them.”
Christmas Sermon by Karin
At the
time, issued the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon a regulation that all the
world's people would be subject to human rights. It was an appeal in the long
line of diplomatic downs, and it was kept when Bashar Al Assad was dictator of
Syria. All who suffered from war and persecution went to seek asylum, each to
the country they could afford to pay the trafficker to go.
And
Joseph, who by his descent had his house bombed, went from Damascus in Syria
via Turkey and Greece to Catherine Jonsson town Skovde, to enroll at the
Migration Board with Mary, his betrothed, who was expecting a child.
While
they were on asylum accommodation was time for her to give birth, and she gave
birth to her son, the firstborn. She dressed him and put him on a mattress on
the floor when they got back to the refugee camp a few hours after birth
because there was no place for asylum seekers without acute care needs inside
the hospital.
In the
same district were some Roma people out there and guarded their blankets at
night. Then stood an official from the Social Services Department in front of
them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But
the social worker said to them, "Be not afraid. I bring you good news of
great joy, a joy for all the people. Today, a new child was born, and although
he is a refugee, he has the same value as any other. "And this is the sign
for you: you will find a baby who has had his diaper for too long and located
in the a worn crib at the refugee camp. "And suddenly there was with the
social worker, a great choir from the music school praising God:" Light a
candle and let it burn, never let hope vanish. It's dark now, but it becomes
brighter again. "
When
the social worker had gone away from them back to the management said the Roma
to one another, "Let us go into the refugee camp and see what has
happened, which the authorities have made known to us." They hurried away
and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby as lay in the crib. When they had seen
it, they told what had been told them concerning this child. All who heard it
were amazed at what the Roma said. Mary kept all these things in her heart and
pondered it.
When
the child had been born in a refugee camp came a few wise people and asked,
"Where are the new baby? We have seen on television that refugees are
struggling even in Sweden, and we are here to help with some stuff. "When some other politicians heard this,
they were worried, and they wondered how large a volume such as this refugee
country really could receive. They gathered the country's experts on
integration and wondered how many people would come during 2015th.
The
wise men did, however, cared more about human dignity than about volumes, and
they went to the refugee camp and delivered diapers, clothes and sheets to one
of the holy families squeezed into the small room with a toilet in the
corridor.
However,
light a candle and let it burn. Refugee Child Jesus received three gifts of the
wise people: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Refugee Children in Skaraborg gets
help from wise people: Every time someone leaves something to Lyktan or to
other organizations, big or small, I think ... ..it was dark, but it got
brighter for a while.
KLV 2014-12-24