Wise men lead us in right direction

CHRISTMAS; the season of nativity plays. This reminds me of a story of two boys both of whom wanted to play the role of Joseph, because each was keen on the girl playing Mary.

One boy got the part of Joseph; the other the innkeeper. It did not please the innkeeper Indulge in a buffet breakfast on to see his rival always in the company of Mary. He decided on a way to embarrass Joseph.

In the play, Joseph and Mary duly arrive in Bethlehem seeking accommodation. Of course, the script in Luke’s gospel says there was no room for them at the inn and they had to settle for a stable.

So in the play Joseph and Mary get to the inn and Joseph inquires whether there was any room in the inn, at which point the innkeeper slyly says: “Sure, come right on in.”

This script deviation catches Mary off guard. She is about to cross the threshold into the arms of the innkeeper, when Joseph blocks her way. “Stop, Mary,” he says. “Let me have a look inside.” He peers in. Then says: “Just as I thought. This inn is not good enough for you. We’ll take the stable instead!”

Christmas is a great festival: a time for families to get together, exchange gifts, feast and sing carols.

There are 12 days of Christmas – December 25 to January 6 – although in Australia those 12 days get a bit lost in what becomes the beginning of the long summer holiday season.

The 12 days are lost, which is a shame as each day recalls something of the birth of Jesus with the 12th day marking the arrival of the Magi, the three wise men at the stable.

There is a lovely custom that happens on the 12th day of Christmas in rural Germany.

The priest walks through the village with a piece of chalk in hand and stops at various houses, where he gathers with the family at their front door.

Above the doorway, on the lintel, he chalks up the letters CMB and the year: 2018.

CMB stand for the initials of the names legend gives to the wise men: Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. When the priest chalks up CMB he is inviting the family to associate themselves with the wise men.