Friday, December 27, 2024
Topic: "The Birth of the Lord Jesus Christ"
Text: Luke 2:15-20
15. And when the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go even to Bethlehem, and see this thing which has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. 16. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. 17. And when they had seen him, they made known again what had been told them concerning this babe. 18. And all that heard them were astonished at what the shepherds said unto them. 19. And Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, and which were in accordance with what had been announced to them.
Let us remember:
The first evangelists of the era of Jesus were the shepherds. They had shared the testimony received from God, transmitted by the angels. At that time, it was not easy to carry a message other than that which concerned Moses and the prophets. Coming to tell people that God had given his son who had just been born of a woman; not officially married, it was very risky. The shepherds believed and deported themselves to the place indicated by the angels. In addition, it was in another city, not very far away but they had sheep to graze. They put aside their shepherd activity to take care of God's affairs. They gave the testimony to Jesus' parents, with all the necessary details. They also told the people of the region, and all who heard them were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. We have not read anywhere that the people opposed their speech; which shows their degree of persuasion and involvement. Do we have this tenacity to speak about Jesus to those we meet? Are we bearers of the gospel to strangers? Perhaps we only speak the gospel with those we know; and even that is very rare. Can we leave our daily occupations in order to go and meet the Son of God? Mary and Joseph did not brush aside the testimony borne by the shepherds. They could have doubted this God who did not allow them to have a place in a good inn. Rather, Mary kept these things and did not forget them. Let us not neglect the message coming from God. Excellent Friday and a good start to the weekend. Amen
Alain Louz.-
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