Thoughts for the Day

The shepherds and the angels

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth 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 heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

(New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

We should expect the unexpected with God. Those messengers of God, the angels, go first to invite some shepherds to see the baby Jesus. These men were outside normal Jewish society. They were unable to observe the rules and regulations, whether it concerned washing or worshipping. They were expected to live with their flocks, often looking after sheep for the whole village for long periods of time.

Today there are two 'fields' outside Bethlehem and you can look down upon them from one of the two churches that celebrate this biblical scene. There are still sheep in the area and traditional shepherds still lead their sheep rather than drive their sheep as shepherds do in the west!

As God leads the shepherds to see the newborn Messiah, so he leads us into a deeper relationship with Him, if we will let Him; if he will hear His call.

Heavenly Father,
we thank You that You called
the shepherds to visit the baby
who was to be their Messiah,
and that they listened to Your messengers
and travelled into Bethlehem.
We thank You that Your Son calls
both poor and rich today,
and pray that we may
be able to hear His voice
amid the clamour of the world.
Amen.