The Star: Bringing together the parts of the nativity story

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.     

—Luke 2:4-7

After viewing the delightful new holiday movie, The Star, with a couple of my grandkids, I decided to incorporate it in my Christmas card and quickly ordered nativity masks.

With the movie still fresh in their minds, Addison and Eli begged to be Mary and Joseph and suggested that their brother, Cole, play the part of Bo, the small but brave donkey they remembered from the film. Layla played double duty as both a camel and Ruth, the lovable sheep who had lost her flock. Her baby brother, Zion, was a natural for Baby Jesus, and the three Ramirez boys were a shoo-in for the three wise men. With an affection for cows, Javier gladly accepted a second part and donned a bovine mask, and his grandma wore one for an angel.

Due to scheduling and location constraints, I couldn’t create a nativity scene with everyone in it, so I brought all the parts together in a collage.  

I thought of the true Christmas story and how it seemed to have scheduling and location constraints of its own—Mary having to travel in her last month of pregnancy and to Bethlehem, where so many people had arrived to register for the census that accommodations were not available, certainly none suitable for the birth of a Savior. But all of this was part of God’s divine plan to bring salvation to mankind, a fulfillment of ancient prophecies. 

The wise men studied the Scriptures and knew that Micah had prophesied, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2).

They saw His star when it rose and came to worship Him (Matthew 2:2).

You may have wondered when I was giving out the parts if I had forgotten the namesake of the movie, the star. But I hadn’t. I hung a star on a staff and we carried it with us to post overhead for photos. But in the end I decided not to use it, because that’s your part.

You are to carry the Christmas star with you. 

Reflect the Light of Jesus to those around you this Christmas and into the New Year. Share the good news and rejoice with the angels, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:14)!” 

Dear Father, thank You for bringing together all of the parts of the nativity story for me. What an indescribable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15)! May I be ever faithful in reflecting the Light to bring others to You. Amen.