The eternal Son who had a nap in an animal's feeding trough

The eternal Son lives in loving union with the Father and the Spirit, one God in three persons in perfect unity. God hears the cries of the people he loves, the ones he created, and his heart goes out to them in his Son.

The weather is bleak and cold; the wind is biting; snow has fallen. The earth stands hard as iron, water has frozen in the puddles. Or perhaps it all takes place in a warm Spring. Whatever the weather, it was long ago.

The Son, the eternal Son, is born in a cramped room shared with animals, and placed in an animal’s feeding-trough. Heavenly beings gather to see the marvellous sight, themselves unseen by the human mother lovingly kissing her tiny baby.

The eternal Son becomes mortal.

Almighty God becomes weak and vulnerable.

The Son exchanges the riches of heaven for life in a humble Jewish family.

The one who dwells in unapproachable light becomes ordinary.

He empties himself of all but love and comes to his people.

Our God – heaven cannot hold him.

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