SPECIAL NOTICE. Each day during Christmas time I will also include a story from my collection over the years. Many of these are used in the Radio Veritas Family Matters Christmas programmes on Wednesdays from 9-10. Today’s story is the original Rowland Christmas Story.

23 December.  Read, reflect, share, pray.  Meeting of children. By Christmas eve they all began to arrive in Israel. Jerusalem and Bethlehem are very close to each other but there is a big wall intended to divide the Israeli people in Jerusalem from the Palestinians in Bethlehem.  For this special occasion the government had even agreed to a pause in the war and to open the road to them all.  The mayors had put their differences aside and the two mayors had come to welcome the Peace Children from all over the world.  Boys and girls of all ages, shapes and sizes, all races and colours, first looked one another over, but soon found the friends they had been writing to. It was as if a vast network, a big web, was coming together. They held hands, they danced and sang, they played and laughed and cried too at times. There were a few fights, after all children will be children. 

Scripture: O Lord have mercy on me, be my helper. You have changed my mourning into dancing. I will thank you forever. Pope Francis: Dear young friends, in order for us and our world to grow and flourish, it is not enough to be united with one another; we need, above all else, to be united with Jesus. From him we receive a great deal of courage. He is always close to us, his Spirit goes before us and accompanies us on all the world’s pathways. Message to Children on 1st World Day of Children May 2024

A STORY FOR CHILDREN AND OTHERS.

 The Rowland Christmas Story.

A long time ago in Israel began the story that we now tell.

Mary, a maiden young and fair was talking to God one day in prayer

when He sent His angel to that place and the angel said “Hail Mary, full of grace

the Lord is with thee, I’m sent to ask if you will please fulfill the task

of being mother to God’s own son.” Said Mary, who loved God-“Your will be done.”

She began to prepare for the coming event to welcome the baby whom God would send.

A few months later the emperor of Rome said every family was to go home

to the town where they came from and write down their name. Joseph and Mary from Bethlehem came,

so they set out to make the long journey there and Joseph helped with most tender care.

They came to Bethlehem late in the day and stopped to enquire at each inn on the way

for a place to eat and a place to rest but all were full up from the worst to the best.

Eventually when they were near to despair they found an old stable cold and bare.

Mary lay down on a bed of hay and the night seemed suddenly as bright as day

for angels were everywhere praising and singing and it seemed as if thousands of bells were ringing

for God’s own Son was born that night to bring peace to earth and make all things right.

A star shone above in the midnight sky and shepherds awoke and wondered why

till angels appeared and called out to them to come and adore the babe of Bethlehem.

Three eastern wise men also came from afar and traveled to Bethlehem led by the star.

They brought with them gifts to offer the King. Now we too our offerings to Him want to bring.

We give you ourselves, please take us, please do, for in making You happy, we’ll be happy too.

To everyone, in every place, of every colour and every race

the Christmas message of love and joy is a sign of hope to each girl and boy.