2019-12-17 The great experiences of life are of course one’s destiny, a gift of God and of his grace, but they nevertheless mostly only fall to the lot of those who are prepared to receive them. Otherwise the Go & See; Go & Tell star rises above their lives Luke 2:8-20 but they are blind to it. Do not leave them to chance; do For the sublime hours of wisdom, not drift into them listlessly in art, and love, we must prepare an everyday frame of mind. ourselves wholly with soul and Prepare yourself; determine to body. So it is with the great days prepare yourself – that is the on which we celebrate our first thing. redemption. Karl Rahner In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around Setting the Scene them, and they were terrified. Luke 2:8-9 Luke 2:8-9 1
2019-12-17 Bethlehem Shepherds • Small town, 5 miles south of Jerusalem • Watching their flocks • The city of David • Protecting them • The place of Ruth & Boaz • Part of the lower class • Today – the church of the Holy Nativity Night Angel • Stillness • Suddenly, a great light • Night sky • The angel appears & the • On the hills outside shepherds are terrified – of town ‘great fear’ The Great Reversal • God comes to the poor & needy – lowly shepherds • God comes to us in our littleness Proclamation • “Do not be afraid” Luke 2:10-14 2
2019-12-17 But the angel said to them, ‘Do wrapped in bands of cloth and not be afraid; for see – I am lying in a manger.’ And suddenly bringing you good news of great there was with the angel a joy for all the people: to you is multitude of the heavenly host, born this day in the city of David praising God and saying, ‘Glory to a Saviour, who is the Messiah, God in the highest heaven, and the Lord. This will be a sign for on earth peace among those you: you will find a child whom he favours!’ Luke 2:10-14 “Do not be afraid” (v10) “This day” (v11) Why? • A Kairos moment – a baby born • Good news • ‘Saviour’, ‘Christ’ (Messiah), • Great joy ‘Lord’ • To all the people • One who overcomes • God’s joy is greater oppression/ the chosen than our gloomy day one of God “A sign” (v12) Angel Choir (v13-14) • A baby lying in a manger • The choir is praising God – • God comes to the stable – not giving glory to God the palace • God’s visitation of peace • A small sign – see God in the (shalom) on earth small things 3
2019-12-17 Solidarity • Live in awareness of God’s • An expression of God with us presence • A call to watch and pay • In spite of obstacles we attention to God’s presence experience in our day to day with us • We are not alone When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made The Shepherds’ Response known to us.’ Luke 2:15-17 Go & See So they went with haste and • The shepherds represent found Mary and Joseph, and the Israel at its best child lying in the manger. When • Responsive to the angel’s they saw this, they made known message what had been told them about this child; • They become a model Luke 2:15-17 for us to follow 4
2019-12-17 The Shepherds’ Impact Go & Tell • The crowds are amazed; Mary ponders the truth in • They share the story with her heart others • The Shepherds’ actions • They give their praise to impact others God • An invitation to us Let us be kind! We have no right God’s Reconciling Work to demand a better world if we do • The whole story centers on not begin the improvement Jesus as our Saviour ourselves in our own heart. Let us • Jesus who brings peace to be kind today! After all we do not earth have to be malicious and bitter and defend ourselves greedily and • And our job to pass the anxiously against others. Karl Rahner peace on to others 5
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