THE CRÈCHE
SO HERE WE ARE : THE 4TH WEEK OF ADVENT ALREADY ! THE FAMILIES WHO ARE ABLE TO JOIN US HAVE ARRIVED AND EXCITEMENT IS RAMPING UP FOR TOGETHER TIME, GOOD FOOD, GOOD WINE AND GIVING GIFTS TO THOSE WE LOVE. WE ARE WATCHING 2 OF OUR GRANDSONS HAVE FUN TOO AS THEY RUN AROUND, PLAY INSTRUMENTS, GIGGLE, LOOK AT THE TREE AND THE CRÈCHE.
THIS YEAR OUR CRÈCHE IS RIGHT AT THE FRONT DOOR SO ALL MIGHT NOTICE IT RIGHT AS THEY ENTER OUR HOME. I PUT THE BABY JESUS NEAR HIS PARENTS, MARY AND JOSEPH, FOR THE PHOTO BUT AS OF NOW THERE ARE STILL A COUPLE OF DAYS UNTIL HE MAKES HIS APPEARANCE BACK IN THE CRÈCHE AT MIDNIGHT ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
WHY DO WE HAVE A CRÈCHE ? ST. FRANCIS CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA ON THE FEAST DAY OF THE NATIVITY OF JESUS ( 3 YEARS BEFORE THE SAINT DIED) AS HE ‘ WANTED TO BRING BETHLEHEM INTO ONE’S OWN TOWN ‘ AND THIS WAS SOON ADOPTED ALL OVER THE WORLD WITH VARIOUS TRADITIONS IN CONSTRUCTION , SIZES AND PLACEMENTS.
OUR FRIEND, HUGO, DIRECTOR AT THE MARIAN CENTRE HERE HAS CONSTRUCTED A HUGE CRÈCHE WITH THE HELP OF THE ‘FAMILY’ THERE AND IT IS A GLORY TO BEHOLD WITH RUNNING WATER, LIGHTS , AND HAND MADE….WELL…EVERYTHING ! ( TERRY PAINTED ‘ THE SKY’ A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ON SOME CLOTH WE FOUND THERE AND IT IS PROUDLY DISPLAYED ABOVE THE TOWN.)
I FOUND OUR CRÈCHE WHEN WE FIRST MOVED TO EDMONTON ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO. I THINK IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL . IT CAME WITH ITS OWN ( METAL) BACKDROP AND EACH FIGURE IS WRAPPED IN ACTUAL CLOTH ( PROBABLY HARDENED WITH SOME FORM OF GLUE) .
THE CRÈCHE HELPS US TEACH OUR LITTLE ONES ABOUT THE BIRTH OF JESUS AND REMINDS ME WHAT IS TRULY IMPORTANT AS I TRY AND SLOW DOWN EVEN AS THINGS DO RAMP UP AS WE NEAR DECEMBER 25TH.
JESUS CAME TO US AS AN INNOCENT BABY AND WAS BORN IN A PLACE WHERE ONLY THE POOREST OF THE POOR WOULD BE BORN : A STABLE FOR THE ANIMALS . OUR LORD HAS ALWAYS HAD A HEART FOR THE POOR . IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT EVEN KINGS BOW BEFORE HIM . LET MY GIFT THIS CHRISTMAS BE A GROWING LOVE FOR THE POOR IN MY OWN CITY AND MAY I ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT JESUS CAME TO SAVE US ALL. LET MY FAITH BE AS TRUSTING AS AN INNOCENT CHILD’S AND MAY I SEE THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE…ALWAYS.