The Good News

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. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

- Luke 2:8-20

In many branches of the Church, today's commemoration is the day of the Holy Innocents, or the day we remember the children killed by Herod. As I normally blog the readings of the Daily Office each day, I am currently somewhat off my schedule. During this period after Christmas until January 10th, the readings vary and will shortly be repeated from the gospel of John. So I have chosen to focus on the events of Christmas during these early days of Christmastide, and will address the Holy Innocents in a few days, as our story of Christmas evolves.

This passage occurs just after yesterday's reading from Luke, in which Mary has given birth at the time of the census, and laid her baby in a manger because there was no room at the inn. Luke then follows with this story of the shepherds living out in the fields nearby, who are keeping watch over their flocks by night. Just as our story of Jesus' birth has so far evolved as a history of good tidings given by angels to Joseph and Mary, and to Elizabeth and Zechariah, so the angelic hosts appear to these shepherds who are living out in the fields, and are keeping watch over their sheep the night of Jesus' birth.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." This is a story of the lowly, as we have seen, and once again the Mighty One lifts up the lowly in this announcement of the good news to these shepherds. As our Christ child is laying in a manger because there is no room for him at the inn, so these shepherds living out in the fields are those to whom the good news of a Savior is announced. The hills around Bethlehem, my study bible points out, held many caves where domestic animals were kept by night - and it is in one of these caves where Jesus was born. We recall the census being taken for the tax as mentioned in yesterday's passage. These shepherds are also among those not in a dwelling or home in the town, but living out in the fields, presumably among the uncounted. As the census is being taken, another power outside that of the mighty Roman Empire makes itself present through grace to these shepherds who have their flock to count and care for.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

My study bible has a note which I'll quote: "Not to kings, priests or biblical scholars, but to 'shepherds living out in the fields' do the angels announce the birth of Him who would be Lamb of God and Shepherd of the sheep." This is truly a story in which the Mighty One lifts up the lowly. The shepherds are graced with light of angelic host, the annunciation of good news, of the child who is nearby. In contrast to the great power that is taking the census for which Joseph has traveled with Mary to Bethlehem, this power is at work to those who can accept it, for which is required humility - for which we must all become like little children.

I think it's important to think about the shepherds caring for their sheep, and our Shepherd who is born on this day. Contrast this with the powers of the world, and the powerful in office and rank, who would control great might and wealth. We have to pause in these days of preparation for the new year to think about the contrast, and the stark nature of paradox and mystery in this birth. The angels come where they will, unbidden, in appearance bright and lustrous - an act of grace, of reaching out to us. The shepherds live out in the fields, and those who visit Bethlehem today can still see the place of the Shepherd's Fields, on which today there are chapels and churches. But we must remember that God's power does not work in the ways that we understand power in worldly terms. Grace reaches to whom it will, and this night of Christ's birth it reaches to the shepherds. Remember that in this greatest story that we celebrate, the power of the Lord is at work wherever it will be - "on whom his favor rests." There are no barriers to this power, but it will be known among those who are humble enough to receive it. The transforming power of this Savior works in its own way, even though it may not be admitted into the world that counts power and wealth in statistical terms, such as the Empire with its census for taxation. In any corner of the world, wherever you may be, stop to give thanks for grace that shines upon all who accept its gifts, even as the rest of the world in its majesty and power, and tumult and busy-ness, goes by. The peace of the Lord is there for those on whom his favor rests, and that power works by an altogether different set of rules, in ways that elude counting. The glory of the Lord is for those upon whom it rests, and to whom it will appear.

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. We are told that Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. We recall Jesus' words that he would later preach in a sermon, in which he taught that no man can serve two masters: "Where your treasure is there your heart will be also." Let us be like Mary and the shepherds, and likewise treasure the good news given us by grace.