Day 22 of Quotes - What They Said About The Nativity

In yesterday's blog there were quotes from the Bible. Today, here's how people interpreted them. There should be something here which links to every person in the Christmas story - can you work out which is which? Some are more obvious than others!

Every mother, when she picks up the young life that has been born to her, looks up to the heavens to thank God for the gift which made the world young again. But here was a Mother, a Madonna, who did not look up. She looked down to Heaven, for this was Heaven in her arms.

Fulton Sheen

We may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Oh that my baaing nature would win thence
Some woolly innocence!

C.S. Lewis

The Christ-child stood at Mary’s knee,
His hair was like a crown.
And all the flowers looked up at Him,
And all the stars looked down.

G.K. Chesterton

Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine, Love was born at Christmas, Star and Angels gave the sign.

Christina Rosetti

There are two parts to the equation: feel good + take action. The ancient Sufi proverb says; Trust in Allah, but first tie your camel to a post.

Andrew Matthews

It is something even more than what happened that night in starlit little Bethlehem; it has been behind the stars forever. There was Christmas in the heart of God before the world was formed.

Roy Rogers

Watch where he comes walking
Out of the Christmas flame,
Dancing, double-talking:
Herod is his name.

Charles Causley

I saw a stable, low and very bare,
A little child in a manger.
The oxen knew Him, had Him in their care,

Mary Elizabeth Coleridge

Ah! Dearest Jesus, Holy Child, Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled; Within my heart, that it may be, A quiet chamber kept for thee.

Martin Luther King Jr.

"Why do you want to play an innkeeper?"
"Because I'd love to, 'cause he swears all day."

Nativity!

How wise the wise men must have been
To find the Child in Bethlehem

Kenny Rogers

God goes to those who have time to hear him-and so on this cloudless night he went to simple shepherds.

Max Lucado

Pre-Christmas is very important, and it is stressful, and, you know, even in the biblical story... travelling on the donkey in a stressful environment.

Michael Leunig

At Christmas, I am always struck by how the spirit of togetherness lies also at the heart of the Christmas story. A young mother and a dutiful father with their baby were joined by poor shepherds and visitors from afar. They came with their gifts to worship the Christ child.

Queen Elizabeth

I brought her to a stable where she made a tiny bed
A place for Baby Jesus to lay His little head

Rita S Beer

Shepherds would soon arrive and later, wise men from the East. Later yet the memory of that night would bring Santa Claus and Frosty and Rudolph — and all would be welcome. But first and forever there was just a little family, without toys or trees or tinsel. With a baby — that's how Christmas began.

Jeffery R. Holland

Saint Joseph, a figure apparently of secondary importance, but in whose attitude is enclosed all Christian wisdom.

Pope Francis

Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Are you not in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need?

You have only to read the Gospels, and to look with willing eyes, and you shall behold in Christ all that can possibly be seen of God.

Charles Spurgeon

Were it not for the shepherds, there would have been no reception. And were it not for a group of stargazers, there would have been no gifts.

Max Lucado

And finally, signing off from my contributions to this blog, here's a personal favourite:

Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

Phillips Brooks