Thoughts for the Day

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.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

(New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

By today (two days after Christmas) anyone with a child or grandchild in the family will know that visitors to the house will immediately be told of the favourite toy the child was given. They will be pulled along to see it in action, as it were, and all its details will have to be examined. Recognise this?

It can be the same with any kind of good news in our lives. We often spread it as quickly as possible to friends and family. But those things that require deep thought may be kept to ourself for a while to ponder on their ramifications.

The shepherds in today's reading from Luke's Gospel receive exciting news from the angels that the Messiah whom the nation of Israel has been waiting for, has been born in Bethlehem, and they go immediately to find him. They return to praise God for what they had seen, and to tell everyone they meet of the good news. But Mary, to whom God has given the greatest gift, ponders on all these events! This can be where prayer starts.

Lord Jesus Christ,
as we celebrate again the news
of Your birth in Bethlehem,
let us not forget that though
You were born as a child
to a humble mother
nevertheless You were God's Son -
a Messiah come to save His people.
May we too seek to spread the
good news to others
as did the shepherds.
Amen.