They had booked accommodation, but their room had been taken.
For Mary and Joseph arrived late, but not the child,
he had to come at the appointed time,
To be born in a hayshed, asleep on the hay.
Jesus!
Special moment for Mary: Relax, Joseph, she says
Together they gaze upon the child.
A delightful silence!
Just their beating loving hearts, and their thoughts:
“A child is born for us. A son is given to us!”
What next?
Some excitement outside, people approaching with sheep
Shepherds and bleating lambs,
told to go into town and see a new-born babe.
Who told them?
An angel!
Yes, says Mary; you can come in, our child is also for you.
We heard, says a shepherd, voices in the sky singing:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
peace on earth among people of goodwill.”
And now?
It is we who sing the song:
“A child is born for us. A son is given to us!”
As shepherds and as angels we are messengers
of this news to the peoples of our land.
So! Sing up loud. Proclaim it proud.
“All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”
Pohutukawa blooms typically appear in New Zealand in early summer,
so that the Pohutukawa is regarded as the New Zealand Christmas tree.
