Luke 2:16-21

In this reading, and the section before it, an angel appears at night to the shepherds in the field who were watching their sheep to tell them the good news “of great joy” that Christ was born.  Not only the angel appears, but a multitude of the heavenly host of angels praising God gather around.  The angel tells the shepherds that the sign they have found the Savior is that he will be lying in a manger. The shepherds hastened to Bethlehem, and sure enough they found Jesus lying in a manger.  They told Mary and Joseph about the angel’s message to them, and then told many other people.  But Mary kept all these events and messages surrounding Jesus’ birth in her heart, pondering their meaning (as a mother does).

The angel appearing to the shepherds means that God appears first to those who are open in spirit, watching both their sheep under the open skies. God does not come first to the wealthy or clever, or to those who consider themselves high-ranking important people, although of course they too many encounter the presence of God through opening their hearts.  But here, God comes first to those who are already open, the humble shepherds watching and listening, watching for changes in the weather, listening for any threats to their sheep.  God comes to those who seem lowly, but in reality, those who seem to be last are really first.  Amen.