ORIENTAL NATIVITY SCENE ORIENTALISCHE KRIPPE |
 Oriental Nativity Scene |
| For the
inn white marble bricks were used almost exclusively. This helped reproduce the white buildings made of marble or limestone bricks which were to be found in Israel. The cold, white form is also used to symbolize mankinds' rejecting, unapproachable hearts. The attika made of hard, grey granite and the closed oak door are to underline this impression. Closed doors, repulsive, indifferent hearts - a "cool", "clean", well ordered life, that needs no saviour. In contrast the stall. The rear wall is composed of a variety of available bricks. A multiform of material: limestone, granite, travertin, slate... as a symbol of the different people, who will accept this saviour. Woods from various countries: symbolize the "Good News", that has since then been travelling around the world. In contrast to the inn it is a primitive stall. Open doors. Nothing is "clean". Yet God, mankind and creation are one, as in times long past. Shepherds kneel with wise men in front of the child - the king. Yet there is an invisible barrier: If we were asked where we would prefer to lodge - in the tidy, civilized life of the inn or in the questionable, primitive, dirty, filthy stall, most of us would no doubt choose the "clean" inn. Shepherds, as simple people, may be made to fit into the stall, but not intelligent, influential persons, who had been guests in the palace only shortly before. Yet for these wise men no way was too long, no stall too filthy, to find their king. And it was here that they found him! And adored him! Is this stall a problem for us? Words from Luke 2, spoken to the shepherds, on a banner in front of this nativity scene: |
| I bring
you good news of great joy.... Today in the town of David a Saviour
has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.... Luke 2, 10 - 11 |
| These words are spoken to each person
standing in front of the manger. To those, who are perhaps still looking
for the saviour, as the wise men were before them - or to those, who
have already found him. Nuremberg, Christmas 1998 |
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