357 : Joseph and Mary travel to Jerusalem
IT came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus,
the emperor in Rome, that all the world should be taxed.
This taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.
Everyone went to be taxed, each to his own city.
And Joseph went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, into Judea,
to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
to be taxed with Mary his wife who was soon to have a child.
So it came to pass that while they were there the day arrived for her child to be born.
She brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,
and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
There were in the same country
shepherds staying in the field, keepingwatch over their flocks by night.
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,
and the glory of the Lord shone round about them,and they were much afraid.
"Fear not," the angel said to them."
For I bring you good tidings of a great joy that is seeming to all people.
For to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign to you:
You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace,good will toward men."
When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
"Let us go into Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass,
which the Lord has made known to us."
They went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it,
they made known throughout the land what they had been told concerning this child.
And all who heard it marvelled at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
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