Thoughts for the Day

Luke 2: 8-9 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.

This journey through Luke’s first 100 verses closes similarly to the way it opened, with another angelic visitation striking fear into those who witness it – this time shepherds.  Again, the cause isn’t really the angel but the glory of the Lord shining around them.  Again, the angel says “Do not be afraid” before giving once-in-history good news – this time of the birth of Jesus.  I’m curious about the confirmatory sign.  I would have imagined the suddenly visible multitude of angels singing praises in words they recognised might have been a stronger confirmation than simply finding a baby, even one in a manger.  But news of the baby grounds the message in reality and sends the shepherds off to “see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about”.

What do Mary and Joseph make of their arrival?  Theirs has been a tough journey, not least the last few hours, and there has been no fanfare of angels here.  Has this really been God’s plan?  They could do with some encouragement!  And suddenly this unlikely group of shepherds turns up.  Do they knock gently and hover quietly by the door, whispering in hushed tones?  I fancy not!  I imagine them bursting in, barely able to contain the news they have been given and brimming over with the details of their experience on the hillside.   “This angel just appeared out of nowhere.  Scariest thing I ever saw, but he shouted, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’  And then he told us about a Saviour being born right here in Bethlehem.  And no sooner had he said so than the whole sky filled with angels praising God over and over again saying  ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’  So we just had to come and see, and this must be him, because here he is, exactly where we were told and exactly how we were told he would be, down to the last detail.”

It’s messy and intrusive but sounds like just what Mary and Joseph need. It fits with everything God has revealed to them about the baby already.  It lifts their eyes and their spirits and reassures them that God is truly and, as it happens, quite literally in this.  Hallelujah!