Advent Devotional - Day 16

 
DECEMBER 16 – Luke 2: 8-12
By: Sue Leffin


8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Christmas Eve. I was 6 years old. We celebrated the usual family traditions and were off to church. I remember that night vividly because it had started to snow. The snowflakes were big and fluffy and fell softly on our shoulders and the ground. As we walked toward the lights of the church all you could hear was footsteps crunching on the fresh snow. The church seemed to glow with warmth, excitement and wonder as the Christmas story was once again told. When we left the church that night we found the snow had stopped falling. There was a blanket of white on the ground and the sky was brilliantly lit with stars….and it was quiet. It was almost as if the earth was waiting in anticipation.

I reflect on that night often when I read this passage in Luke. How peaceful it must have been as the shepherds sat with their flocks in the hills above Bethlehem, listening to the soft sounds of grazing sheep. Did they have a sense of anticipation as they looked up at that brilliant starlit sky on that dark, quiet night? And when angels appeared, at first terrifying, but filling them with excitement and wonder at the good news did they feel the warm glow of a promise fulfilled?

Dear Lord, I pray for peaceful quiet as we anticipate the good news. I pray for the excitement, wonder and hope that comes with the telling of the Christmas story, and I pray for the warmth of the fulfilled promise. Amen.