When we look back at the history of Christianity, perhaps we can understand better now why this infancy narrative has been one of the most popular sections of the whole Jesus story, one of the best known and of worldwide appeal. This was due not only to the appreciation of a good story that was satisfying to emotion and sentiment; it also reflected a Christian instinct recognising therein the essence of the good news – that is, that God has made himself present to us (Emmanuel) in the life of one who walked this earth, indeed, so truly present that this one, Jesus, was his Son. This revelation was an offence and contradiction to some, but salvation to those who had eyes to see. Raymond Brown in Treasury of the Catholic Church compiled by Teresa de Bertodano (Darton, Longman and Todd