Luke 2:13-2013Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15When 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.” 16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
It’s all the buzz…’who are you having for dinner on Christmas?’ Me and my family will be 10 this year, my mom is going to my brothers for the day! My friend is having 20 on Christmas Eve, then 30 on Christmas Day! She has a small home! I just don’t know how they will all fit, but we know it will be a fun and a noisy day!
On this, Christmas Eve, I want to talk about some guests that should be at everyone’s Christmas gatherings, but, are often don’t make it to the guest list!
First, let’s mention the shepherds. They were out in fields with sheep! They had been there many days at a time. No bathing, grooming, no people interaction. Why were they the first ones there to see the Christ? Well, they represent that segment of our society that often gets forgotten, left out in the cold-literally! Our homeless population in America is staggering! Like the shepherds they are looking for someone to give them hope this Christmas. Maybe it’s you? Please, consider sending a monetary gift, or a coat, blanket, scarves gloves or socks to your local shelter this winter. It’s such a small thing when we have multiples of everything!
Next on the guest list is the host of angels! They had a huge job announcing the birth of Jesus over the Bethlehem sky. In our world today the media, social media, TV, radio etc. play such an important role in our lives. We often receive alerts on our phones of emergency situations, bad weather, even Amber alerts for missing children. In the age when Jesus came on the scene, media was slow! How else would the news have been broadcast to everyone if their were not announcements in the sky? We can still use the media for good. Call, text, email, message someone who will not be able to get out for Christmas. Even if they can get out, contact them anyway. I think they would like to hear from you! In my little corner of the world I have paid to have a scripture verse in the Scranton Times every day! I believe the Word will not return void.
The Holy Family. How could we forget them at the celebration that is ALL about them? Yet, we sometimes do just that. So wrapped up in the preparations for the big day, that we forget the BIG reason for the day! He was just an ordinary baby. Mom’s everywhere take that baby in their arms, count the fingers and toes, check out their arms and legs, and just love that child to pieces. I am sure Mary did the same thing. She was just an ordinary young woman, with a heart for God, and now she held Him! Dads, are often reduced to a puddle of mush as they realize this life is their responsibility to raise! Joseph was no exception! He lived in the work-a-day world, and now had the huge responsibility of raising a King! They were very young! You may know some young families that would like a ‘more mature’ friend with child rearing experience to help them through the rough spots! I remember a young friend of mine who migrated here from India. With no Mom around for the first days of baby care, she called me to help give a slippery baby her first bath. I was honored to help.
These were ordinary people with ordinary situations until God broke into their ‘normal’ and made it something miraculous! This Christmas as we look at that Nativity allow those characters in that little barn to penetrate our here and now! As we anticipate The Second coming of Christ, let us all be ready if we are called upon to be an ordinary person in an extraordinary and miraculous event! Think about it! Merry CHRISTmas!
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