The shepherds feared and trembled When lo, above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus That hailed our Savior’s birth.
Chaplain Jeffrey Scheer, Administrator for Clinical Pastoral Education – St. Louis, MO
When I revisit the story of the angels coming to the shepherds, I wonder if these tenders of the sheep could really share in the joy that the angels were expressing. This group of people had just been surprised by an angel who announced the birth of the Savior of the world. Luke records for us that these shepherds were filled with fear and then after this announcement comes a multitude of heavenly hosts who are praising God. Yikes!
When I put myself in the sandals of those shepherds, I don’t think I would be very joyful about what I was seeing! I would need some time for what had just happened to sink in and I would certainly need to regain my composure. The shepherds seemed to need this too as they paused and wondered together what had just happened, then they went to Bethlehem to see the reality of what had been made known. Imagine the clatter within the community when the shepherds shared what they had been told?
What are you going to do with this startlingly good news? Will you be skeptical or will you share it with the world around you? Will you go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere that Jesus Christ is born? Just as those first shepherds, we too, by God’s grace and peace, can share this good news with a world that needs to hear what God has done for His people. What a joyful clatter that can and will be. Merry Christmas!
Prayer
We thank You, Jesus, for coming to be with us and for sending Your angels to proclaim Your birth. Send also the Holy Spirit to enliven our hearts to go tell this good news on the mountains and everywhere we go. Amen!
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