Tidings of Great Joy


 

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 all around them and they were terrified. Luke 2:8



In writing about the birth of Jesus, Brennan Manning describes those who initially greeted the baby as “turkeys, losers and dirt-poor shepherds.” No one of notoriety stood or knelt in the stinky stable. No king, no prince, no president, no celebrity, no pastor, just simple shepherds. Simple. That seems to be the way Jesus liked it from the very beginning to today.

So, if you're a nobody in the world's eyes, rejoice! This is our day! This day, this glorious day when we celebrate the event that changed the world and is still changing the world, this is our day. Those of us who work and pray, pray and give, who live in light of the events of that amazing night, this is our day.

Manning also uses the word “shipwrecked” to describe the followers of Jesus then and now. That is so accurate. I've seen the ships of my own making, my desires, or efforts at control wreck over and over. Good! It just shows me who is truly in control.

Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Well, this is the day! This day celebrates the birth of the greatest, most awesome, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). It celebrates the birth of the One who could have not just chosen but commanded anyone and he chose first, shepherds, then a ragtag bunch of fishermen and a tax collector, and then, us. Oh glorious day! He. Chose. Us. He chose you.

There are days on the calendar that mark historical events and shine a light on people or groups of people who have done amazing things. That's great. We should remember them but this, this is the day for the rest of us, those of us whose greatest accomplishments may be to bandage a knee or lend an ear, to show up with soup to a sick friend or cook dinner for the family who just lost a loved one. This is the day for those of us who love because he first loved us.

Merry Christmas!

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