Never cease to be amazed

I love Christ-mas. I love reading again the story in The Bible about Jesus' birth. Each year I spend some time with the family looking again through Luke's gospel and wondering at the characters: a young girl's acceptance despite the personal cost; a bemused fiance's obedience and willingness to relocate on the basis of angelic visitation and dreams; an faithful old couple having a miracle baby; a busy and scary angel; excluded and ostracised shepherds - the first witnesses; a baby like no other. God has come - in flesh. What mystery. What wonder.