The Lion King (1994) is the most amazing, most touching, and most beautiful modern interpretation of the cycle of rebirth that we can imagine. Watch it, listen to it, it IS Christmas without the traditional shepherds, sheep, and the like, but Christmas nevertheless in its original form of "Yuletide," the rebirth of everything and, indeed, the great cycle of life that never dies and always returns. Merry Christmas!
From "The Blogmire"
“But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth” (Luke 1:11-14).
Mary is told to overcome her fear, for she is the virgin foretold by the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14), who would bear Immanuel — God With Us:
“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus” (Luke 1:28-31).
Joseph is told not to fear marriage to Mary, for her conception is not the result of infidelity, as he assumes, but rather the divine creation in her womb of the long foretold Messiah:
“Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21-22).
The shepherds are told to overcome their fear, for the news they are about to receive is the culmination of the promises God gave long ago that he would destroy the kingdom of darkness, and set up a kingdom which would spread through the earth, slowly, inexorably, inevitably growing to cover the whole earth (see Genesis 22:17-18; Psalm 2:7-8; Daniel 2:35; Daniel 7:27):
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” (Luke 2:9-10)
