The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-12-24
Ca(m1aQe
sermon
By Rev.
Frank De Witt Talrnage, D. D.

sermon tender. memories OF long past
Christmases are recalled and the uni
verSal theme receives a new and bril-
liant setting. The aaext is Luke ii, 10,
'But Mary kept all these things and
pOndered them in her heart
The life of Mary, the Virgin, up to the
period of the angels visit had proba
bly, been that of the ordinary Jewish
girl. In her quiet, uneventful exist
ence there had suddenly come a long
succession of wonderful manifestations
One great event came treadfng upon
there seemed to be a great army of
them. Why she should be singled out
from all the rest of the human race as
the chosen one of God she could not
understand. She was only a pure,
young, immature maiden. After these
manifestations came to her she could
not fully appreciate their meaning
But she stored them away in her men,
Dry. She treasured them up. Other
people ma- have heard the story of
that weary journey from Nazareth to
Bethlehem, of the crowded inn and the
birth in the stable, and, after a word
or two of pity for the young mother,
would dismiss the story from their
minds. But not so the chief actor in
the scene. Mary never forgot any of
those scenes which preceded and sue
ceeded the night Jesus was born. The
Bible distinctly affirms this. But
Mary kept all these things and pom
dered them in her heart
Now, the older we grow the more
our present ChriStmases link them
selves to the Christmases that are
past When 6lir children gather about
the Christmas tree to get their toys
we think of the time when, with our
fathers and mothers and brothers and
sisters, we as children gathered about
the Christmas tree of the old home
stead. Thus | would have you join
me in a walk through the corridors OF
the past and talk about the events OF
many ChristmaSes that are gone as we
try to follow Mary, the mother of
Jesus, when as an old or middle aged
woman she lived over the wonderful
events which preceded and succeeded
the most important Of all Christmases,
when Jesus as little child lay in the
manger of Bethlehem of Judea.
With aching hands and bleeding feet
We dig and heap. lay stone on stone;
We bear the burden and the heat
OF the long day and wish 'twere done.
Not till the hours of light return
All we have built do we discern.
When Mary as middle aged woman
wandered through the sacred halls OF
memory ami pondered over the Incl
dents which preceded the hottest OF
ChristmaSes the first event crOwding
upon her mind and heart must have
been the visitation of the angel Ga
briel. who announced to her that she
was to be the mother of the Son OF
God. She must again and again have
recalled how he looked. She must
again and again have lived over that
wonderful time when her own limo
cence and purity were amazed and
overwhelmed At the significance Of his
message. She knew that she was pure
in body and in spirit, yet the strange
and marvellous statement was made
| that she, virgin, was selected from
| all women to become the mother OF
| the coming Messiah. Oh, was there
ever news more momenteus! was
| there ever a fact more overwhelming
| The Angels Visit.
Have you ever tried to picture thii
angelic visitation? The more l have
thought upon this scene the more real
istic it has become to me. In the frs
place. have always pictured Mary al
orphan Her father and mother arr
dead Her brothers and sisters arr
scattered. She is about seventeen
years Of age. She has a sweet. pure
! face. do not believe even the In
spired genius of Raphael or Muril
10 or a Botticelli or COrreggio ha!
half portrayed the purity and goodness
Of her countenance. Then L hav'
thought she had a great wealth O.
black hair and great black eyes. Sh'
was at that age when the strange
could not tell whether she was
schoolgirl or young woman. She wa
at what is called the doubtful age o
| womanhood.
Her work Of the day is finished. Th
| supper is finished. The dishes are al
washed and put away. She goes L
her room and shuts the door and /
alone. Then l picture her thinking
over her past life. She thinks OF he
mother and father and wonders how
her little brother is getting along. A
she thinks of the broken home of he
childhood she is sobbing as though he
heart would break. Suddenly she look
up. There stands before her beaut
full faced angel. His garments are o
spotless W hite. He seems to be mar
and vet she knows that he is a celestia
visitor. Her great eyes widen in wor
derment Her lips part as though t
speak, but she utters not wore
There in the silence of the room sh
drops upon her knees and says: MAS
ter. what Is 1t? Hast thou news froI
my dear ones in the other world
Then l think the angel reaches fort
Ii l,opa oD1 forcbaS hpr and saws