Luke 2:1-20 - God Bursts in our Ordinary Lives with the Birth of Christ!

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes 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, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!"

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Shepherds Find the Christ, just as the Angel said!

photo by Richard Bott, used under the creative commons license.

check out more photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22057747@N07/

God breaks into our ordinary lives and invites us to witness His Love for us.  He gives concrete, tangible proof of His Love and our lives are never the same again.  We get to listen to the heavenly chorus sing praises to God and we can join in! God gives us Good News and that Good News is that God has dwelt among us as a Man. Taking on our flesh, He has redeemed Humanity and we can become like God in holiness.

O Lord, the Shepherds, who were humble of heart, rejoiced that Christ was born as humble as they were. The shepherds rejoiced that their dreary lives were lit up with Angelic Hosts praising God.  This day, on the eve of Christmas, may I remember that God in the Flesh is the Good News I need to hear and I should conduct myself with humility as the shepherds did. I thank you, Lord Christ, that in Your Humility, You choose to become a Man, redeeming all humanity by Your Incarnation. Amen.