Good evening—good afternoon, I mean—and a happy new year. [Laughter.] It is too much drink.
The first item of business this afternoon is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader today is Mr Jamie Stuart, an elder of High Carntyne parish church and the author of “The Glasgow Gospel” and “A Glasgow Bible”. He has a new book out called “Still Running: The Seven Lives of a Glasgow Phenomenon”, and he is back by popular demand.
Presiding Officer, First Minister, members of Parliament, it is nice to be here. This afternoon, I present to you the story of the wise men.
Jesus was born in the toon o Bethlehem durin the time o King Herod. Soon after, some astrologers came from the east, askin, “Whaur’s the newborn bairn who they’re callin the King of the Jews? We saw his star, and we’re here now to worship him.”
King Herod was gey rummled when he heard this, and aw Jerusalem alang wi him. He called a meetin of the Jewish High Heid Yins and put the question tae them: “Where is it that this Christ is tae be born?” They answered, “In the toon o Bethlehem in Judea. Years ago, it was prophesied, ‘And you, Bethlehem, are not the least amang the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a leader to rule ower my people o Israel.’”
Herod took the astrologers aside and asked them about the date when they first saw the star. He sent them aff tae Bethlehem, sayin, “Try an find the bairn. When you find him, tell me—and I masel will go and worship him.” The astrologers started oot again and, right enough, the star wis staunin there, shinin bright ower Bethlehem. Man, they were fair burstin wi joy. They went inty the hoose, saw the bairn and his mither Mary, an knelt doon in homage. They opened their bags and gied presents: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Then the wise men, warned by God not to go back tae Herod, went hame by anither road.
After they went aff, an angel of the Lord came tae Joseph in a dream, sayin, “Take your son and his mither, and escape tae Egypt. Stay there til I tell ye, for Herod is seekin oot the bairn tae destroy him.” So Joseph set aff, takin the wee bairn and his mither tae Egypt. When Herod saw that he had been jouked by the astrologers, he wis gey mad and gied orders to kill aw the wee boy bairns of two year auld and under in Bethlehem and aw the places roond aboot.
But it happened that Herod died, and soon after an angel appeared tae Joseph in Egypt, sayin, “You can go back now to Israel. Those who wir seekin tae kill the bairn are dead.” So Joseph and Mary went back right away, with the boy Jesus.
Thank you. [Applause.]
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