And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Luke 2:8-20
He awoke with a start. His scalp prickled the way it sometimes did when a wild animal lurked just outside the pen. He sat up quickly and rolled up the cloak on which he had laid his head. As he crept to the closest rock, he peered around the sheep pen and then remembered to let out his breath, aware that he had been holding it in. The sheep slept. The other shepherds leaned in toward the fire, laughing as they shared stories. All was well. As he strolled over to join the group, he chuckled as he rehearsed a tale he would share.
Without warning, a brilliant light pierced the darkness and a voice surrounded the shepherds and the sheep. He dropped to the ground and covered his head with his arms. The voice sounded like none he had ever heard; it was spellbinding, terrifying and yet reassuring and gentle. He trembled as he listened. The angel told the shepherds not to be afraid. The boy dared to look into this kind face that hovered just above the young men as he reached out his arms to them. He shared the joyful news of a Savior, born just that day in a small village nearby and wrapped in rags, sleeping where the animals were.
At once the sky was filled with angels brighter than the midday sun. Their song gave glory to God and peace to men because of His favor. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate so he could remember the sound. They sang as hundreds, but sounded as only one voice. They sang a sweet harmony but he could not hear the individual parts. He opened his eyes once again to see the glory and they were gone just as suddenly as the first one had appeared.
The shepherds sat wordless for several minutes. No one was willing to mention what he had just seen. Had the others seen it as well? Then as they began to look at one another; they shared a look of wonder and peace and excitement.
“Let’s go now! Let’s go find this Savior, this newly born baby. Who will stay with the sheep?” He and those whose watch was not due for a few hours set off through the darkness, feeling their way through the rocky landscape with their staffs. The darkness seemed even more intense because of the brightness of a few moments before. He traveled without speaking, trying to decide how his life might change as a result of this night, yet knowing it already had.
As they struggled up a rise that overlooked the small town of Bethlehem, he caught his breath and held it long for the second time that night. There in the sky a star shone with the same brilliance that he had seen when the angels came. He stopped and clinched his fists in trepidation. He knew that this baby must be someone powerful if the announcement of his birth was made in such a way. What right had he to impose himself in the birth celebration? He knew how he looked and smelled and he didn’t feel right about it somehow. Yet he sensed that his feet would keep moving one in front of the other no matter if he tried to stop them.
The light from the star made their journey down the incline a little easier and they followed the sounds of the animals in the stables set apart from the living quarters. As they approached the open door, a young woman looked up at them and smiled. She nodded at them as they crept forward to see the baby whom the angels said would change the world. His vision blurred as tears burned his eyes and he looked first at the peaceful mother and then the child. His feelings of inadequacy melted away and he knew that when he next laid his head on his cloak to sleep, he would rest in joy and peace.
Luke 2:8-20
He awoke with a start. His scalp prickled the way it sometimes did when a wild animal lurked just outside the pen. He sat up quickly and rolled up the cloak on which he had laid his head. As he crept to the closest rock, he peered around the sheep pen and then remembered to let out his breath, aware that he had been holding it in. The sheep slept. The other shepherds leaned in toward the fire, laughing as they shared stories. All was well. As he strolled over to join the group, he chuckled as he rehearsed a tale he would share.
Without warning, a brilliant light pierced the darkness and a voice surrounded the shepherds and the sheep. He dropped to the ground and covered his head with his arms. The voice sounded like none he had ever heard; it was spellbinding, terrifying and yet reassuring and gentle. He trembled as he listened. The angel told the shepherds not to be afraid. The boy dared to look into this kind face that hovered just above the young men as he reached out his arms to them. He shared the joyful news of a Savior, born just that day in a small village nearby and wrapped in rags, sleeping where the animals were.
At once the sky was filled with angels brighter than the midday sun. Their song gave glory to God and peace to men because of His favor. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate so he could remember the sound. They sang as hundreds, but sounded as only one voice. They sang a sweet harmony but he could not hear the individual parts. He opened his eyes once again to see the glory and they were gone just as suddenly as the first one had appeared.
The shepherds sat wordless for several minutes. No one was willing to mention what he had just seen. Had the others seen it as well? Then as they began to look at one another; they shared a look of wonder and peace and excitement.
“Let’s go now! Let’s go find this Savior, this newly born baby. Who will stay with the sheep?” He and those whose watch was not due for a few hours set off through the darkness, feeling their way through the rocky landscape with their staffs. The darkness seemed even more intense because of the brightness of a few moments before. He traveled without speaking, trying to decide how his life might change as a result of this night, yet knowing it already had.
As they struggled up a rise that overlooked the small town of Bethlehem, he caught his breath and held it long for the second time that night. There in the sky a star shone with the same brilliance that he had seen when the angels came. He stopped and clinched his fists in trepidation. He knew that this baby must be someone powerful if the announcement of his birth was made in such a way. What right had he to impose himself in the birth celebration? He knew how he looked and smelled and he didn’t feel right about it somehow. Yet he sensed that his feet would keep moving one in front of the other no matter if he tried to stop them.
The light from the star made their journey down the incline a little easier and they followed the sounds of the animals in the stables set apart from the living quarters. As they approached the open door, a young woman looked up at them and smiled. She nodded at them as they crept forward to see the baby whom the angels said would change the world. His vision blurred as tears burned his eyes and he looked first at the peaceful mother and then the child. His feelings of inadequacy melted away and he knew that when he next laid his head on his cloak to sleep, he would rest in joy and peace.
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