15When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
So the shepherds leave their flocks and go to see the baby the angel has told them about. Who wouldn’t? And of course they found everything exactly as they were told. How could it be anything else? And yet, is that how we really act?
We have the story, and many more like it. Our Bible is full of them. Jesus is coming to us every day. We have promises from God himself that he loves us and we be with us forever. Yet how often do I drop everything and run to Him? I wonder how many times when I walk past a homeless man on a city street or work an extra hour instead of stopping in on a friend, I am actually ignoring baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph? I can’t really claim I don’t know they are there because God has made it clear that he lives within us all. No, I’m afraid I’ve missed the hymns of angels so many times.
Lord, open my eyes and my ears. Help me to hear your announcements of great joy. Or perhaps give me the courage to be the announcer and tell others of the great things you have done for us all. Yes Lord, let me bring your tidings of great joy to a world that is dark and sad sometimes. Praise you Lord, praise you.
Can you hear them now?
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