Luke 2:1-20
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar 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 in the guest room.
Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them, and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.”
Imagine the first Christmas Eve. The shepherds are taking care of their sheep. It is dark, cold and quiet. The only lights are the stars above and the fires at which they sit. What hopes and dreams might these shepherds have? Do they think about a warm meal? Is their hope that no predatory animal would come and steal one of the precious sheep? Are they wondering about the promised Messiah the old prophets were talking about?
Suddenly a choir of angels begins to sing. All the darkness is gone. The shepherds’ fear turns into joy as they hear about the Savior that came for them. Nothing keeps them from running to the stable in Bethlehem to see the newborn king.
The songs of the angels did not necessarily change the quality of their fireside meals or the safety of their sheep. They hadn’t considered how deeply their hope could be fulfilled or the profound way in which their lives were about to change. They saw and experienced Emmanuel “God with us.” God came for these simple poor men and invited them to be part of His big story. The change in their lives came when they answered the angels by praising God and telling others about everything they heard and saw.
The words of the choir of angels were not just for the shepherds. Their message is as relevant for us as it was for them. “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
Christmas Eve is upon us again. Our night will most likely not be dark and dangerous, but bright with candles, Christmas songs and blinking LED lights. What are our hopes and dreams tonight? Do we think about our family gatherings and the turkey on the table? Do we hope not to hear more bad news on TV or social media? Do we think about the Messiah that came a few thousand years ago?
In what new way can we be open to the shepherds’ story that we have heard so often? Will this be just another Christmas? Whatever our own circumstances may be, can we also see that we are a part of this story and we all have reason to answer God by praising Him and telling others about our experiences with Him?