December 24, 2008  the rector, the Rev. Raymond Harbort, preacher

Lessons:  Isaiah 9:2-7; Titus 2: 11-14; Luke 2:1-14    

     As you probably know, Jesus was born in a stable in a town called Bethlehem.   His mother Mary and Joseph had made a long journey to that little town.  And by the time they arrived there was no more room in the inn. no place to stay except that stable. Where the animals were kept. 

    There was probably a donkey in that stable.  And maybe a cow.    But there’s another animal I think might have been there too.  They often live in barns and stables and they are much smaller than cows or donkeys.  And they can be very, very quiet.  In fact they’re known for being quiet.  Can you guess what they are?

Have you ever heard someone talk about being “as quiet as a mouse”?  

     I think there might have been mice there when Jesus was born.  In fact, I think I remember a story about those manger mice.  And if you’ll be quiet as mice, I’ll tell it to you now. 

    It seems that when Mary and Joseph came to the stable, the mice overheard Joseph

thanking the innkeeper for letting them stay there----especially because Mary was about to have a baby any time now.  So the innkeeper suggested that when the baby came they put some straw in the animals feeding trough and use it as a crib for the baby.  But before Mary and Joseph did anything else, they were so tired from their trip that they both lay down in the straw to take a little nap. 

     As soon as they were asleep, all the mother mice came together (quiet as mice, naturally!) squeaking to one another in whispers.  “What does that innkeeper know about babies?” they all said.  “Straw is too scratchy.  Any baby needs something softer than that.”  And somehow they all felt in their little mouse hearts that this would be a very special baby.  And even if it wasn’t, they would have done it anyway.  But what should they do? 

     Just then old granny mouse put her paw to her lips and they all became absolutely quiet—as only mice can be.  “Listen up”, she said, “we all line our nests with all the soft stuff we can find; soft little leaves, fur from the cat, bits of wool from the sheep, downy feathers from the birds.  And God is so good to us that we all have more than enough to keep us and our little ones comfortable and warm.  So, let’s all share what we don’t need and make that old feeding trough fit for a king.” 

     So, that’s what they did.  First, they got their husbands and the children to start putting lots of straw in the bottom of the feeding trough.  And then they all went back to their nests and came back with all the soft stuff they didn’t need.  And in no time they had made a wonderfully soft bed. 
 

     No sooner had they finished when Mary and Joseph began to stir from their nap.  So, as quickly and quietly as they had worked, all the mice went to their nests. When Mary awoke she saw the bed that had been prepared for her baby.  No one knew who had done it, of course, except the mice—and God.  And God was pleased with the mice.  For they had shared his gifts and welcomed his Son Jesus into the world---even though they didn’t know it was his Son and would have done it for any baby. 

     But, later—after Mary and Joseph had left, the innkeeper came to feed his animals.

And he saw and knew who had done it—because he’d seen a lot of mouse nests.  And many years later he learned that the child who had been born in his stable was Jesus, his savior---and ours.  He was humbled and glad that he had done what he could that night so many years ago when he let the man and his wife stay in his stable.  And whenever he could, he told this story of what the mice had done---- to anyone who would listen----so that they might understand that whatever we do to help and welcome and love others in need---it is the same as doing it for Jesus.