Think of the preparation that goes into giving birth – scans, plans, midwives and clinics. Now imagine having none of these – in a foreign city, on the streets and no one will let you in.

Luke 2. 1-7

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

I spent many years as a priest in the South Pacific as chaplain to a religious community.

It is Christmas night on the island of Nggela. I am about to lead the midnight service when a message comes. A teenage girl is having a baby. She is in agony and cannot deliver. Two of the community rush to find her alone on the dirt floor of an outside kitchen. She is screaming. The villagers know the baby has been conceived outside marriage. No one comes to help.

“What did you do?” I ask them later.

“We knelt down with her, and I said, ‘When Jesus was born, he was born just like this ... He is with you now.’ The child was born – and as she held her tiny baby, the whole night was filled with his light.”

What are your greatest fears? Your greatest hopes? How are they met in the birth of Jesus tonight?