Luke 2: 8 – 20 The Shepherds

Luke 2: 8 – 20 The Shepherds

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

God sent his first bearers of the glad tidings of Jesus’ birth to humble, working folk, shepherds. They were simple men, not religious so far as we can tell. But they were used to being quiet, to watching and waiting with few distractions. This is who God chose to reveal his Son to, to bear witness to his birth and be the first to announce it to the world. Not the powerful, not the so-called experts. Just people who had enough stillness in their lives to take his message in and act upon it. How important was that stillness? Perhaps very important. I would like to cultivate some of that stillness, that space and quiet in my life so I can take in and bear witness to God’s intention for my life.