Build a fantastic 5" Fontanini Nativity

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.

When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,

“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”

When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus.

Mark 10: 17-27

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,
knelt down before him, and asked him,
“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good?
No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
you shall not defraud;
honor your father and your mother.”

He replied and said to him,
“Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.”

Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,

“You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
“How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”

The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,

“Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,

“Then who can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,

“For human beings it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God.”

Commentators down the ages have puzzled over these verses and ingenious proposals have been suggested about what Jesus meant by referring to the “eye of the needle”. Some have suggested the low door used by pedestrians to enter the Church of the Holy Nativity in Bethlehem (erected by Queen Helena in the 4th Century) represents the idea being that individuals are thereby forced to enter such a Holy Place in an attitude of humility.

I have entered This Holy door with an attitude of humility and gratitude!

One of my oldest memories, was when my grandfather, made a very special trip with me. He took me to St. Joseph Catholic Church, in New Castle PA, where he worked. It was at Christmas time, when I was 3 or 4 years old. He took me to see the elaborate, Nativity that he just finished setting up. We lived a block from the church. So as he took my hand, I felt very important that, he was paying me so much attention. This is what I remember, not so much the actual nativity itself.

Ever since, all nativities have special meaning to me!