Nazareth Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and because there was no place for them in the inn. LOCATION 1: Mary’s Home, Luke 1:18-38 exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and Accompanying Image: “Mary, Keep Watch,” Kelly Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to Latimore mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. And Bethlehem Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what LOCATION 4: The Shepherds’ Fields, Luke 2:8-20 disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to was spoken to her by the Lord.’ In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, And Mary said, watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him for the Mighty One has done great things for me, Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from and holy is his name. you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his His mercy is for those who fear him in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and from generation to generation. multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory he named him Jesus. He has shown strength with his arm; to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. whom he favors!’ called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and and lifted up the lowly; shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much he has filled the hungry with good things, see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. and sent the rich away empty. known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor He has helped his servant Israel, Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and in remembrance of his mercy, they made known what had been told them about this child; and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of according to the promise he made to our ancestors, all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’ But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his And Mary remained with her for about three months and then heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, returned to her home. all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come Accompanying Image: “Visitation with Hand,” Jim Janknegt upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore Accompanying Image: “Shepherds Christmas,” Jim the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, Bethlehem – The Manger Janknegt your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is LOCATION 3: Christ’s Birthplace, Luke 2:1-7 the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be Jerusalem – Herod’s Palace impossible with God.’ Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the LOCATION 5: King Herod’s Palace, Matthew 2:1-6 Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed world should be registered. This was the first registration and was In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem from her. taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, Accompanying Image: “Annunciation,” Jim Janknegt towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because Judean Town in the Hills we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and LOCATION 2: Elizabeth and Zechariah’s House, Luke 1:39-56 be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for so it has been written by the prophet: “And you, Bethlehem, in the the redemption of Jerusalem. land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for Accompanying Image: “Presentation,” Kelly Latimore from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.” Egypt – The Holy Family’s Temporary Home Accompanying Image: “Holy Family,” Kelly Latimore LOCATION 7: Somewhere in Egypt, Matthew 2:13-18 Jerusalem – The Temple Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in LOCATION 6: The Jewish Temple, Luke 2:21-38 a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Christmas Pilgrimage Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and Welcome and Orientation he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was for the child, to destroy him.’ Then Joseph got up, took the child conceived in the womb. and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until Welcome to the parish pilgrimage that follows the footsteps of the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the the Christmas story. Your footsteps will trace those of Mary, When the time came for their purification according to the law of Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’ Joseph, and the Holy Family, and invites you into this familiar Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord story in a new way. It is a story and a journey fit for adults and (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was for children to engage. This pilgrimage makes space for different be designated as holy to the Lord’), and they offered a sacrifice infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around kinds of experiences. You can come and prayerfully walk the according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle- Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time journey pausing for reflection at each location. You can also doves or two young pigeons.’ that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: ‘A voice was heard in romp through the grounds and locations, playfully asking Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her questions and wondering with the youngest in your life. man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.’ The series of stories that comprise the Christmas story begin and of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to end in Nazareth. It is a traveling story. Have you ever noticed him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had Accompanying Image: “Holy Family of the Streets,” Kelly how much of our sacred texts, Old Testament and New seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into Latimore Testament, are comprised of traveling stories? And our stories, the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do Nazareth and particularly our travel stories, bring us to new places which for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his can disorient us a bit, and can bring to us new understanding, new arms and praised God, saying, ‘Master, now you are dismissing LOCATION 8: The Holy Family’s Home, Matthew 2:19- life, and certainly new stories of our own to share. This your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have 23, Luke 2:39-40 pilgrimage is self-guided. This is your time to experience the seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a Christmas story in mind and body and spirit. peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his people Israel.’ mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the Enter with Wonder And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being child’s life are dead.’ Then Joseph got up, took the child and his As you walk along the route mapped for you, as you look and said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that read and listen, notice what draws your attention and take note at Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he what God does and how God is with you as you move, play, pray, in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went and reflect. Take note of how the Spirit moves in you as you thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town walk, as you pause, as you focus. What feelings surface? What own soul too.’ called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets do you wonder about? What calls your attention and sparks your might be fulfilled, ‘He will be called a Nazorean.’ There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe imagination? How do the varied footsteps of your life story find of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, a fit (or don’t!) within the footsteps of this story? seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty- they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to was upon him. Accompanying Image: “Refugees La Sagrada Familia,” Kelly Latimore