This is Aaron, he is a shepherd in Bethlehem. He has got some sheep. For a shepherd like Aaron, the sheep are everything. They give him milk, wool, food… Can you see his love for his little lamb?
He lives in this little town with his wife Magda. They don’t have children, but they are praying every day because they would like to have a little baby. One night, he is walking home with his sheep. He is feeling restless and he keeps on looking at a bright star in the sky. He is sure he has never seen that star before. It is incredibly luminous, and it seems to point to a place. ”
Anna turned to the nativity scene behind her, and she pointed at the star on the roof of the stable.
“Aaron tries to concentrate on his sheep, to think of his peaceful evening with his wife, but … he can’t help being attracted by that star, and he finds himself following it, without even knowing what he is doing. The strange thing is that the sheep follow him, as if they were attracted by that star as well. The star becomes gradually more luminous, until Aaron sees a solitary abandoned stable. He thinks he must be mistaken! Why would a star guide him to that forlorn place? The star is so bright that he can see the stable clearly, even if it is dark. He stops and walks to a little window. He tries to peer inside, but he can't see anything … But, what is the sound that comes from that abandoned place? An animal? No, he is certain! It is the soft wailing of a baby… A baby in a place like this? Aaron thinks for a moment of going inside, but then …. What can he do? He has no experience with children. He can take care of lambs, but he is really hopeless with babies… He makes up his mind: he will go home, leave the sheep in the pen and call his wife Magda. She is such a practical, sensible woman… she will certainly know what to do. He goes home in a hurry, he checks that all his sheep are safe in their pen, and he opens the door. Magda senses immediately that he is upset, that something is wrong. “Aaron,” she says, “What's the matter? Why are you late? I was worried…”
“Aaron takes a deep breath, and he tries to calm down before answering: “Oh, Magda, haven't you seen that bright star tonight?”
“Yes, Aaron, it is impossible not to notice it. It is so luminous…”
“But it is even more brilliant when you go to that abandoned stable on the outskirts of the town, the one that hasn’t been used for such a long time…”
“Have you gone there, Aaron?” “Yes, Magda, I couldn't help it…” Magda is getting impatient. “And what did you see?” “I didn't see anything, but I heard a baby crying.” “A baby crying in a forlorn place like that? Was it alone? On such a chilly night?” “Oh, Magda, you know that I am not good at dealing with little children… I preferred to call you. Can we go now to see if someone needs help?” Magda doesn't need any encouragement. She immediately takes a couple of blankets, a warm shawl, a piece of sheep cheese, some fruit, she puts everything in a basket, and she leaves with her husband.
When they arrive at the stable, Magda sees that what Aaron has told her is true. The star is so luminous that they can see as clearly as in daylight. When they go nearer they hear a soft voice humming a song and the wail of a baby.
Husband and wife exchange a glance, and they open the rickety wooden door. Inside the stable there is just a lantern that illuminates the large space. Aaron and Magda try to discern something in the low light, which contrasts with the brightness of the star outside. As they get accustomed to the gloom, they see a cow and an ass. They are lying on the straw and between them … Aaron and Magda stop, as if they were suddenly unable to move. Between the two animals there is a wooden manger. In this improvised cradle, wrapped up in a blanket, there is a tiny little baby. A strikingly beautiful woman is looking at the baby in awe, unaware of the two people who have just entered. A man is beside the woman with an arm around her shoulders. The man turns and smiles at Aaron and Magda. He gestures to them to come forward, and he takes the child in his arms so that the shepherd and his wife can see him. Magda is the first to speak and to interrupt what seems more a dream than reality.
"Hello! My husband heard a baby crying while he was coming home with the sheep, and we thought maybe there was someone in need... We have brought a little food and warm blankets. It's such a chilly night!"
While she is talking, she takes the blankets and the shawl, but she doesn't dare to approach the couple. The man smiles and says:
"Hello, you have been very kind and thoughtful. My name is Joseph and this is my wife Maria. We came here for the census and, when Maria realized she was having the baby soon, we looked for a room in an inn, but we didn't find any, and we took refuge here. My wife and the baby are fine and in the next few days we are going to look for a better place. This is our little baby boy, his name is Jesus.”
He pauses, looking affectionately at the little one sleeping peacefully in his arms. “Thank you for your help. I certainly need a blanket for the baby and a warm shawl for Maria." Joseph lays the baby back into the manger , he takes the shawl and puts it around his wife's shoulders with great tenderness. Magda gives the basket she has brought to Joseph.
"In this basket there is some bread, some sheep cheese and some fruit. Tomorrow morning I will come with some more food or anything you may need. Now I will go to my sister Rachel's. She has a little six-month-old child, and she certainly still has clothes for a little baby like yours. I have no children yet, so I don't have anything useful at home. My name is Magda and this is my husband Aaron."
"Thank you. You have been very kind. We have everything we need for now, but something for our little child would certainly be useful. Don't hurry, please, and don't worry for us. You can come with your sister tomorrow. You have already been very kind."
"It's a pleasure for us to be able to help.... maybe my sister will need some time to look for baby clothes, certainly tomorrow morning we will be here."
After leaving the young couple, they slowly go towards Rachel and David’s home, without saying anything, as if even a word could break the magical atmosphere of that night.”
Anna put the figure of the shepherd back to its place in the nativity scene. The children were still silent, evidently waiting for the story to go on.
Silvia told them softly: “Children, dad will be at home now. We have to go…”
Giulia asked eagerly:
“But I want to know if Magda goes to her sister to ask for clothes for baby Jesus…”
Anna caressed the girl's cheek with tenderness, and she told her:
“Now you have to go, because your dad will be worried if he doesn't find you at home, but you can come back tomorrow to listen to the story of Magda’s sister Rachel.”
Mario and Giulia nodded, they embraced their grandmother and they went home…
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