The wise old angel looked at the little angel, and offered his divine wings to wipe the tears in her eyes, “Why are you crying little angel?” he asked kindly. It was unusual to see weeping in the heavenly realm and he was a little uncertain how to deal with such.

“It’s a week before Jesus will be born on earth,” she sniffed, “And I just heard He is going to be born in a manger!”

“Yes indeed,” said the wise old angel.

“Our God in a cattle shed!” exclaimed the little angel stamping her feet, “When His birth should have been in a palace, in a five star hotel maybe?”

“Ah, my little angel, our God is escaping the five-star hotel they have tried to lock him in,” said the wise old angel, “and is going to be available for all mankind! Look and see where they have kept God till now!”

The little angel, tears still falling from her eyes, looked down at earth, and saw pharisees walking around, “Look at them,” said the wise angel, “Everything they do is done for show: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long!”

“With no God in their hearts!” whispered the little angel.

“They have become keepers of the fold,” said the old angel, “Their duty is to keep others out! And, if Jesus were to be born in one of their temples or palaces, they would do the same with Him. Keep Him as another showpiece for themselves while looking down on others who don’t wear their tassels, phylacteries and their hair in ringlets! Like..”

“Fishermen!”

“Tax collectors!”

“A Samaritan woman with five husbands!”

“Adulterous women!”

“Even a dying, repentant thief!” sighed the wise old angel.

The wise old angel and the little angel, looked down from heaven in the year 2023, “Now why are you crying little angel?” asked the wise angel.

“Because the keepers of the fold have moved from Bethlehem and Jerusalem to all over the world,” she said, “Their tassels have been replaced by churches and religious trusts with signboards saying, “Jesus belongs only here!’ Their phylacteries with the scorn and derision they use when calling others demons and devils! Nothing has changed!”

‘A lot has,” said the wise old angel, “You remember our Lord telling them the story of the prodigal son?”

“Oh yes,” said the little angel.

“Those who keep others out, who think they are holier than others, are the elder brother,” said the wise old angel, “But unlike the younger brother who went in and feasted with his overjoyed father, these keepers of the fold will never join that feast!”

“And the feast,” whispered the little angel, smiling, “Is the heaven we both are enjoying..!”