She was five, sure of the facts, and recited them with slow solemnity, convinced every word was revelation. She said they were so poor they had only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to eat, and they went a long way from home without getting lost. The lady rode a donkey, the man walked, and the baby was inside the lady. They had to stay in a stable with an ox and an ass (hee-hee), but the Three Rich Men found them because a star lited the roof. Shepherds came and you could pet the sheep but not feed them. Then the baby was borned. And do you know who he was? Her quarter eyes inflated to silver dollars. The baby was God. And she jumped in the air, whirled round, dove into the sofa, and buried her head under the cushion, which is the only proper response to the Good News of the Incarnation.
-John Shea, The Hour of the Unexpected
What now? December 25 has come and gone. But this is where Christmas should begin! What will your response be to the Good News of the Incarnation? Luke tells us that the shepherds spread the word. "When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child" (Luke 2:17).
They told everyone they met what they had seen and heard. I wonder if we would have been as obedient? Would we have gone to Bethlehem in the middle of the night? Would we have been as quick to tell the story?
Good news is for sharing! That's what the shepherds did. That's what all of us are called to do. This is the first way we can all celebrate Christmas. Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!
We pray that you will experience the peace of Christ during this Christmas season.
The office staff will be taking a much needed break after Christmas, so Reflections will resume on Monday, January 5.
If you would like to follow along with daily readings from the Bible, you can find them at the PCUSA website.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Prayer for Today
Lord, help us to fully receive the gift of Jesus this Christmas. Open our eyes that we might seek opportunities to tell others about the Good News of our Savior, to share our faith, and to model the love of Christ to all we meet. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
