The Son of God is born in this world, but He finds no place here. The world is at home, or at least by its resources it finds a place in the inn. It becomes a kind of measure of man's place in and reception by the world. The Son of God finds none save in the manger.

Is it for nothing that the Holy Ghost records this circumstance? No; there is no room for God, and that which is of God, in this world. So much the more perfect, therefore, is the love that brought Him down to earth. But He began in a manger and ended on the cross, and along the way had not where to lay His head.

The Son of God-- a child partaking in all the weakness and all the circumstances of human life, thus manifested-- appears in the world.

But if God comes into this world, and if a manger receives Him in the nature He has taken in grace, the angels are occupied with the event on which depends the fate of the whole universe and the accomplishment of all the counsels of God-- for He has chosen weak things to confound things that are mighty. This poor Infant is the object of all the counsels of God, the Upholder and Heir of the whole creation, the Saviour of all who shall inherit glory and eternal life.

Some poor men who were faithfully performing their toilsome labours, afar from the restless activity of an ambitious and sinful world, receive the first tidings of the Lord's presence on earth. The God of Israel did not seek for the great among His people, but had respect to the poor of the flock.

Two things here present themselves. The angel who comes to the shepherds of Judea announces to them the fulfilment of the promises of God to Israel. The choir of angels celebrate in their heavenly chorus of praise all the real import of this wondrous event. "Unto you," says the heavenly messenger who visits the poor shepherds, "is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." This was proclaiming good tidings to them and to all the people.