Advent: Week 3 Day 5

The Little Town of Bethlehem



(that black thing represents a cave on the hillside)

"And thou Bethlehem Ephrata, art a little one among the thousands of Juda, out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be the ruler in Israel: and his going forth is from the beginning, from the days of eternity."

This is one of the most important, and the most specific prophecies of the Bible. It is also significant, because it is actually quoted by the Bible Scholars in the Bible itself when they were asked where the Messias/Messiah = Christ was to be born. See the story of the Magi in St. Matthew. And of course we know WHY Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem, even though they lived in Nazareth...

Do I hear you asking "WHY?"

Remember how some days ago, I told you there was a major topic to be addressed, which I deferred for a bit? I will defer addressing it again. But I will tell you what it is, for then you will have your answer, and can begin to anticipate the story with the proper degree of excitement....

The answer is Rome.

But for the moment, we're talking about a little town, maybe about three miles south of Jerusalem - the place where David lived when he was young. It's a Hebrew term, and means "House of Bread".

"Yet in thy dark streets shineth the Everlasting Light:
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight."

It needs to be carefully pondered: like Anna or Simeon in the Temple: there were still Jews, usually more or less simple people, though that does NOT mean stupid or uneducated! but there were still some waiting, expecting, century after century: they had heard about the proto-evangelion ("I will put enmity between you, snake, and the woman") and the promises to Abraham ("...as many as the stars of heaven... God will provide the sacrifice...") and all the others.

AND THEY, with their HOPES AND FEARS, waited, and watched.

God has promised, and HE WILL DO IT.

And now, they knew where it was going to happen. And they waited for the Day.

Now, we also wait. There must be one final sign. One more message was yet to be transported: AND REMEMBER, oh you users of the INTERNET!!! It MUST BE A BI-DIRECTIONAL one. (see Jacob''s Ladder for more on that.)

And then, yes, then, we shall see - uh, well, - what we shall see.