Scripture

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see …’” Luke 2:15

Reflections

Jesus comes in human form.  Why did the angels announce his coming to seemingly random shepherds?  Would it not be more appropriate to announce it to the important people, the dignitaries of the state?  Certainly, Herod or Caiaphas or the high priests should hear of his coming, but none of them were deemed worthy.

Perhaps it has to do with the kind of people the shepherds were and the kind of God we have.  Their lives consisted of caring for and tending to sheep.  Sheep were not the most glamorous or intelligent of creatures.  And here we have shepherds whose lives consisted of caring for the creatures that would otherwise be overlooked.

This is the God we come to know through Jesus, the One who cares for those who don’t matter in the eyes of the world.  As we read the prophecy from Ezekiel 34, “For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out.  As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep.  I will rescue them.”

The good news of great joy is that our God did not just come for the popular, the beautiful, the prestigious and the wealthy.  He came to plain old ordinary people like you and me, because we matter to him.

Prayer

Lord God, thank you for caring for the least, the last and the lost.  Grant me a shepherd’s heart, knowing that you came for all.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Full Reading: Luke 2:1-20