'The Nativity Story'

If you get the chance to do so, enrich your Christmas celebrating by seeing The Nativity Story. It's a moving and down-to-earth telling of the story of Jesus' birth. The cast is fantastic. The way the story is told can, at times, be witty, something that I think could appeal to spiritually-disconnected people.

While one could quibble with trivial things like Mary riding on a donkey to Bethlehem, which almost certainly did not happen or the wise men being at the stable with the shepherds, which, according to the Gospel of Matthew certainly did not happen, they don't distract attention from the story.

The scandal associated with the young Mary being pregnant and with Joseph taking her as his wife is well-portrayed. (As they leave for Bethlehem, the census, and the impending birth of Jesus, the people of Nazareth greet Mary and Joseph with cold stares. Joseph turns to Mary, his virgin bride, and says, with a smile, "We'll be missed.")

One might also quibble with the use of three wise men, even though the Bible doesn't say how many magi presented gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ child. But the movie's portrayal of their decision to follow the natal star and the building up of their faith that results, is a sometimes funny and compelling element of The Nativity Story.

The scene showing the birth of Jesus in a barn is so moving, it may bring a lump to your throat. The deity incarnated in a stable. What a God we have!

DON'T MISS THE NATIVITY STORY!