Monday, January 2, 2006
Ninth Christmas Day
Luke 2:17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.
THEY MADE KNOWN ABROAD THE SAYING
We have no way of knowing when they did get back to their flocks. Having seen the Child they had to speak of what they had found. We are carefully told what their message was. It was not a matter of reporting the strange story of a child born in a stable because there was no room in the inn, nor any of the other interesting bits of news they had found. They made known the "saying" that was told them concerning this Child. We can hear them taking up the words of the angel and repeating over and over again to those they met, "Unto you is born!" This peace with God was meant for all men. The shepherds understood quickly that this was not something they could keep to themselves and so they set about sharing this gift with everyone they could reach.
Let our Christmas thinking be controlled as was that of the shepherds. The angel was speaking to us when he announced "Unto you is born!" Fixing our hearts upon this truth of God will give meaning to our Christmas joy and will compel us to share the peace we have found in the Child of Bethlehem with all we can reach.
To you this night is born a child
Of Mary, chosen virgin mild;
This little child, of lowly birth,
Shall be the joy of all the earth.
