December 24th - Reflection

Reading
Luke 2:1-20
1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 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. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 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 for them in the inn. 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 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: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" 15 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." 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Reflection
And they were terrified. An announcement that God had taken human flesh and come as human to redeem the world. But an announcement to shepherds?! I would be terrified too! An announcement to Bill? Sinful, silly Bill? Terrified! Why would God choose me to make such an announcement to?

Shepherds working, smelling of sweat, and hard work. Shepherds so dirty to be declared "unclean" in the Old Testament sense of the word. Shepherds working...and then an announcement.

As they gaze at one another after the announcement and the praise of all the heavenly host, their reaction was to GO!!! GO!!! A common movement amongst the people that Jesus would meet throughout his life on earth. Jesus motivates people to GO!!! So the shepherds after receiving an announcement of salvation couldn't help themselves but to GO!!! And they went and they saw and they proclaimed to all that God placed in their lives what they had seen.

All not so much different in how God comes to me or to you. Jesus comes into our lives with an announcement of His presence. We go and check it out. Faith grows and we tell the people in our lives what we have seen. GO!!! Jesus has come to you this day! GO!!! Check it out and find the truth. Then GO!!! and tell those God places in your life, today, tomorrow and forever. Just GO!!! and tell what you have seen.

And Jesus came to my front door, with Moses, Elijah and another, asking, "Can Billy come out to play?" And I GO!!! Check it out, then GO!!! and tell what I have seen. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Jesus, what an announcement that has been made! How can I help but to GO!!! and check it out? How can I help but to GO!!! and tell what I have seen, today, tomorrow and forever. Thanks! Now, I gotta GO!!! ---Amen