Think about the First Christmas; it is a far cry from the commercial gift giving event of today. Joseph and Mary are alone in an unfamiliar town. While it is Joseph’s family town for census purposes, he no longer has family there; otherwise they would not need to stay at an inn.  The account does not give the Holy Family servants or traveling companions and there is no mention of a mid-wife. How alone they must have felt. Of course there was God, the heavenly father and their belief was strong; but remember even Christ felt abandoned when he cried out on the cross,  “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”  Joseph must have been feeling particularly irrelevant and useless though one hopes he assisted in the birth.  That same night, angels announce to the shepherds that Christ was born and they visit the newborn Christ at the manger. The wise men bearing gifts were certainly not at the manger of the inn the night Jesus was born.  They came later when the Holy family had returned home. The Bible does not tell us to celebrate the birth of Christ but His death and rising again, not just at Easter but, every Sunday through The Lord’s Supper, “according to thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ’s holy institution.”  What is important is that Christ’s birth did fulfill many important prophecies. The event brought about great joy to the world when our Saviour and “God with us,” was born into the world. Considering that first Christmas, we truly should pray, “ Hail Mary, full of Grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women.” We should also give a thought to His earthly father and say a prayer for Joseph. We should take Holy Communion that blessed night or day!