Each December the world begins to breathe a spirit of hope. The reason for this is the long-awaited birth of our divine Savior, Jesus Christ.
After man had rebelled against God through sinful disobedience, a chasm was created. Through his own power, man cannot bridge this terrible separation. Only God had the power to reach back to the human race. God promises this gift of redemption after the fall in the Garden of Eden, and chooses a special people, the Israelites, to carry out this promise.
Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites turn to and away from God, demonstrating the need for the Redeemer. Finally, in the fullness of time, Our Lord is born in a humble stable in Bethlehem.
He comes not as the desired conquering warrior king, but as a helpless Infant. As Simeon is soon to prophesy, He is already a sign of contradiction. This beautifully-illustrated book uses the Gospel accounts in St. Matthew’s and St. Luke’s Gospels to tell the story of this miraculous event. The time of darkness has ended; the people have seen a great light. Our redemption begins with the birth of Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
Spirin skillfully blends both Evangelists’ accounts of the Nativity (Birth of Our Lord). She paints a spectacular Annunciation scene between Mary and the Angel Gabriel. White lilies indicate the pure state of Mary, and the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, descends on the Blessed Virgin. In the next scene, the artist paints St. Joseph being told by an angel to take Mary into his home. The Child has been conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit. Additionally, St. Joseph is to give the name Jesus to the Holy Child, for He will save His people from their sins.
The following painting portrays the Holy Family on their way to Bethlehem because of the decree of Caesar Augustus. St. Joseph, being a descendant of King David, goes to register in Bethlehem. Because there is no room in the inn, Mary gives birth to Jesus in a stable, wraps Him in swaddling clothes, and lays him in a manger (an animal feeding trough). Here in the humblest of circumstances lies the Savior of the world.
Meanwhile, angels of heaven appear to shepherds watching their flock by night. In a two-page painting, Spirin magnificently displays the choirs of angels descending to earth and telling the shepherds the wonderful news of the birth of Christ the Lord.
In the final paintings in the book, readers see the wise men (Magi) coming from the East. Somewhat naively, they ask the evil King Herod about the birth of the newborn King of the Jews. The paranoid Herod plays the hypocrite and tells the wise men (sometimes called the Three Kings) to find the Child and then come back with the location of His birth. When he finds out where Jesus has been born, Herod plans to send soldiers there to kill Jesus. Fortunately, the Three Kings will trick Herod, foiling his plans. Spirin’s canvas of the Magi worshipping Jesus is simply stunning. This picture will cause you to want to worship Our Lord. The book closes with the author’s comments on the establishment of Dec. 25 as the date of Christmas.
While the story of Our Lord’s birth is well known, this book will be a magnificent and comforting introduction of these sacred events to younger children in your family. The paintings are sometimes subdued and at other times gorgeous. The text is taken directly from the Gospel accounts of St. Matthew and St. Luke.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough for your family. When I read this book and began absorbing the beauty of the paintings, my heart, like those of the angels, wanted to shout out "Glory to God in the Highest, and peace to His people on earth." (Lk 2:8-14)
Have a blessed Christmas!!!
