Jesse Tree - Day 18 - Bethlehem

"But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah too small to be among the clans of Judah, From you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel." (Micah 5:1)

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light.
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

Please don't laugh at my clay Bethlehem. This isn't like sculpting a shepherd's staff or a cross.

So the prophets foretold that the Saviour would come from Bethlehem. And - of course - the prophets were right. Even if it took some gyrations to get the Holy Family there. After all, they weren't living in Bethlehem, travel was difficult in those days - and more so for someone expecting a child. I'm sure the possibility of Mary remaining with her relatives in Nazareth while Joseph took care of the census business was discussed. But they went. They had to go. Because it was foretold.

Today's readings were Micah 5:2 (though I included 5:1 because that's the verse that mentions Bethlehem) and Luke 2:4-7. The symbol was Bethlehem (to which my initial reaction was 'how are we going to create a Bethlehem to hang on a tree?')