Assistant Principal
Jacky Guardascione
Advent - The Season of Joyful Preparation
A Nativity scene is a representation of the birth of Jesus Christ, depicting the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. The Nativity is often credited to St Francis of Assisi who in 1223 created the first ‘live’ Nativity in Greccio, Italy. Its purpose was and continues to be today, to help people experience the story of Christ’s birth.
Like all stories, characters are present. But do you know who all of these characters are and why they are so important in our Christmas Story?
THE HOLY FAMILY
“So they (the shepherds) went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the Child lying in the manger.” (Lk 2:16)
Mary and Joseph are central characters in the Nativity and in Christian history. Jesus is the future King of the universe. God, Jesus, chose to come into the world in humility, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger, teaching us that greatness is found not in riches or power, but in simplicity and faith.
THE SHEPHERDS
“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in bands of cloth, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Lk 2:7)
The shepherds are the first people to be informed of the birth of Jesus, teaching us that the message of Jesus is for ALL people. These men responded immediately, leaving their fields to worship Jesus. Finally, after seeing Jesus, the shepherds spread the word about what they had experienced. They remind us that encountering Christ naturally leads to sharing the joy with others.
THE MAGI
“On entering the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they knelt down and paid Him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Mt 2:11)
The Magi, who are believed to have been Persian scholars, appear only in the Gospel of Matthew. Their names—Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar— and they offer three gifts: Gold - a gift for a King. Frankincense - a gift for a God. Myrrh - a gift for a Saviour. Often the Magi are placed a little further away from the manger to indicate that they’re on their way because their arrival actually takes place on January 6 - The Feast of the Epiphany.
Having a Nativity as part of your annual Christmas Decorations is a great way to keep the real meaning of Christ-mas alive in your home.
Thank You
I cannot believe that it has been a year since joining the wonderful community of St Margaret Mary’s! I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for welcoming me this year and I look forward to continuing to build relationships with our families as well as working with teachers and students as we strive for excellence in all that we do.