Saturday, December 13, 2014

Shepherds watching thier flocks


Advent, the third Sunday

 

 

Somewhere in time, this Sunday, it’s the third Sunday of Advent.  Learning about Advent has been interesting.  Each special part of the Christmas story is celebrated.  This time, it’s the shepherds.

With the Shepherd candle, we celebrate joy and hope.

If we think about it, shepherds were not the rulers of society. They were not revered, or wealthy or powerful.   They lived alone at times, out in the elements, guarding sheep. 

But God wanted to show that his coming was for everyone.  There were wise men following a star, but there were also shepherds just watching their sheep. Doing what they always do with no idea of the miracle happening nearby.

Suddenly the sky grew bright as a host of angels appeared. 

Luke 2:8-14New King James Version (NKJV)

Glory in the Highest

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold,[a] an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”[
b]

Sometimes, when our lives are filled with the daily grind of responsibilities, we may feel like shepherds.  We are not rich, powerful or even known or respected by thousands of people. 

But God came to earth for us.

Our joy doesn’t come from our circumstances and our hope is not in this world. 

What could be better than that?

 

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