Re: Advent Themes

(True/False) The order of events at Jesus' birth were as follows:

1. -During one of her 'apparitions' as Queen of Heaven, blessing the people, Mary stepped out from the apparition and took on human bodily form in order to give birth to Jesus. That's why she is "blessed above women", and why she is said to have been of immaculate conception.

2. -Joseph led the donkey to Bethlehem, on which he had placed -very- 'pregnant' Mary, as she was also wearing a 'blue' robe.

3. -When Jesus was born, immediately the cattle fell on their knees in worship

4. -When the lowing of the cattle awoke baby Jesus, He did not cry

5. -The angels told the shepherds to follow the star till they would find baby Jesus, who would be lying naked in Mary's arms.

6. -The shepherds came to worship Jesus, bringing along some chestnuts they had been "roasting on an open fire"

7. -Later that night three kings came from "orient are" to worship

8. -And finally, the little drummer boy, who had been hiding in the shadows due to his shyness, came and played his drum for Jesus, at Mary's approval.

9. -Mary gave blessings to all those visitors that night, and gave the sign of the cross

Trivia Answers:

1. False. All of it. Mary was a teen-ager, who was visited by the angel Gabriel, who told her the news that she had been chosen to give birth to Jesus, through the Holy Spirit. The greeting given to Mary was that she was blessed "among" women, not "above" women. (Lk1:28)

2. The only thing we know for sure is that Mary was "very pregnant". She was "with child", and when they reached Bethlehem the "days were fulfilled for her to give birth" (Lk2:6) Did she ride a donkey? Scripture doesn't say. Did she wear 'blue'? ...likely not, as they were 'poor' judging by the "pair of turtledoves or two young doves" brought at her purification (Lk2:24,Le12:8) Poor people didn't usually have a beast of burden. In ancient times women would often keep working in the fields during pregnancy, perhaps pop out the baby at lunch break, and go back to work that afternoon...such was the rigor of ancient life (and many babies died). But the ~60 miles (as the crow flies) from Nazareth to Bethlehem does seem like a terribly fur-piece to walk. However... Scripture does not say; anything along these lines is mere speculation.

3. Nothing like this is recorded in Scripture. It is mere legend.

4. Again, Scripture does not say one way or the other. It is not addressed in Scripture, but is a romantical notion by a poet/song writer.

5. It was the wise men who followed the star. (Mt2:2) The shepherds were told they would find Jesus "wrapped in swaddling clothes" and "lying in a manger" (Lk2:12)

6. Nothing about "chestnuts" in the Scriptural account. That was the realm of Nat King Cole

7. Judging by Herod's edict to kill all the male babies under "two years old" (Mt2:16) it was not the same night, but more likely a couple years later. They were not "kings" but "wise men", and Scripture does not specify 'how many' they were. They came from the "east" (not necessarily the orient) and they paid homage to Jesus in the "house", not the manger. (Mt2)

8. False. Not a Scriptural account.

9. False. What Mary did was: "...kept all these things and pondered them in her heart" (Lk2:19)