(a) Mary, a virgin, was betrothed to a man named Joseph. The angel of the Lord had told Mary that she would bear a son whose name would be Jesus. The angel explained that the Holy Spirit would come upon Mary and that the power of the Most High would overshadow her. The child to be born would be called holy, the Son of God. Soon after the encounter Mary was conceived of the Holy Spirit. When the time for her to be delivered approached, Joseph went with her down to Bethlehem in Judea. This was because Caesar Augustus had ordered that everybody should go to his town for a census. Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem, the city of David for the census, because they were of that lineage. As there was no place in the Inn, Mary gave birth to a baby boy in a manger. Mary wrapped the child in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger. The shepherds were told about the birth of Jesus in the city of David by the angels. just as the heavenly Host glorified God: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased. And they went to see the child and everything was as the angel said. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.

(b) Lessons:
(i) One important lesson is that the humble nature of one's birth does not affect one's greatness in life,
(ii) With God, all things are possible. Mary, a virgin, was conceived of the Holy Spirit which in human perspectives would have been impossible.
(iii) We should take our civic responsibility seriously. Joseph carried out his civic responsibility by taking Mary to Bethlehem in deference to the Roman authorities concerning census. God can use people of humble birth to achieve His purposes