Gospel LK 2:16-21

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,

and the infant lying in the manger.

When they saw this,

they made known the message 

that had been told them about this child.

All who heard it were amazed

by what had been told them by the shepherds.

And Mary kept all these things,

reflecting on them in her heart.

Then the shepherds returned,

glorifying and praising God

for all they had heard and seen, 

just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision,

he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel

before he was conceived in the womb.

Reflection:

“The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,

and the infant lying in the manger.

When they saw this,

they made known the message 

that had been told them about this child.”

And what was the message told to the shepherds about the child?

“And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12

“All who heard it were amazed

by what had been told them by the shepherds.

And Mary kept all these things,

reflecting on them in her heart.”

Two thousand years have passed and we continue to be amazed. Like the shepherds of old, we still flock to see the child in the manger. 

A week before Christmas, “Karen,” a volunteer at My Brother’s Keeper, struck up a conversation with me. She said, “Jim, I am so concerned. My son and his wife do not take our young grandchildren to church. I’m thinking about giving their family a Nativity scene for Christmas. What do you think?”

My instinct told me that might be a mistake. So, I told her, “That may backfire on you. You might want to wait until God provides the right opportunity to touch on the subject in a more natural way.”

I went on to tell her that sometimes in our eagerness to do good we can create roadblocks to God’s will. Often we are better off letting things happen rather than trying to make them happen.

A few days later Karen sought me out. 

Excited, she said, “Guess what happened? My son stopped by to visit with my five year old grandson. While my son and I were chatting, my grandson went over to my Nativity scene and stood there studying it.”

Then my grandson asked, “Who is this baby?”

Karen said her son was “silent for a moment and had a sad look on his face.”

Then he spoke, “We haven’t done a very good job on this Mom.”

She said, “Why don’t you think about your family coming to Mass with us on Christmas.”

Her son replied, “I’ll talk to my wife about it.”

“Then the shepherds returned,

glorifying and praising God

for all they had heard and seen, 

just as it had been told to them.”

Like the angels, we too feel compelled to make the message of His coming known.

“Angels speak to those who silence their minds long enough to hear.”

– Proverb