Every December, a small group of parishioners gather at the church to prepare the Nativity Scene.  There is something quite natural about wanting to prepare a place for the arrival of a baby.  In the later stages of pregnancy, many expectant mothers develop an urge to ‘prepare the nest’ – to tidy, arrange, decorate and make everything ready for the new arrival.  Perhaps the parish experiences a similar instinct each Christmas!

Baby Jesus was not born in a palace but in humble surroundings, in a stable where animals were kept.  Mary accepted this with faith, trusting in God’s plan for her.  However, we can all imagine that both Mary and Joseph might have wished for something better for this most precious child. Perhaps this is why we gather each year, offering our time and our creativity as our gift for the King.

The frame is carried out in pieces and bolted together.  The lights, the fabrics, the hay are all slowly arranged, then rearranged, and sometimes rearranged again, as we all search our memories and “how did we do it last year?” is murmured. The basic structure of the Nativity scene remains the same, but each year there is a little ‘fine-tuning’.  Greenery is added or renewed, then lights, and sometimes, a little more sparkle.

The statues are carefully placed in position. Everything is now in place, except for baby Jesus. The manger remains empty. We wait.

Then the statue of baby Jesus is reverently carried in at the Midnight Mass and gently placed in the manger. 

And somehow, in the middle of  Christmas busyness, something much quieter transpires.  People pause in front of the scene. Some for only a moment, while others remain a little longer.  In the middle of all the often frantic activity of Christmas, they stand quietly, pray and contemplate the mystery of Christ’s birth.

Yes. It’s only October.  But before we know it, Christmas will be here.

“And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12)