SISTER MARIAN’S WEB-
THE SHEPHERDS’ JOURNEY
LUKE 2:15
When the angels had returned to heaven, the
shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to
Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that
has happened which the Lord had told us about.”
This journey is full of expectation! There is in wonderment and curiosity. Perhaps
there was also apprehension; what would be awaiting them in Bethlehem?
The shepherds may have been in a state of euphoria! They had all just experience
the vision of many angels filling the sky above them and heard them singing, “ Glory
to God in the highest Heaven!” (Luke 2: 14) May be they were wondering if it actually
happened or that they had all experienced the same dream!
Whatever it was, it was so dramatic that each one of them wanted to rush off
straight away to Bethlehem and see if what they had been told was true.
Had the longed for Messiah had been born, and were they going to be the first to see
Him?
If they had expected the Messiah to be born in a palace somewhere, the angel
had discounted that. They had been told they should search for Him among the
ordinary folk in the village of Bethlehem and that they would recognize Him because
He would be, ‘lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!’ (LUKE 2: 12)
Where do we expect to find Jesus this Christmas?
I offer the following alternatives:
In the Salvation Army Hostels at Christmas dinner; among the sick in the hospitals
or dying on the streets of poorer countries; in the offices of voluntary organisations; in
the streets of Africa begging for food; in amongst the many lonely people who have
nobody to share their Christmas; I am sure you can add many of your own ideas to the
list!
He will of course, also be found enjoying the worship in our churches, chapels and
meeting places and joining in the fun at children’s Christmas parties!
So how will we recognise Him?
Well we have several descriptions to guide us! He is either revealed in every person
whose life, in all ways, reflect the Love, teachings and works of the adult Jesus, or
perhaps, He is the most needy person who is looking to you for help!
Matthew 25: 35 and 40:
‘For, I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave
me a drink. I was a stranger and you invited me into your
home. I was naked,and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and
you cared for me. I was in prison and you visited me.’
V 40 ‘I assure you, when you did it to the least of these my brother and sisters,
you were doing it to me.’
May God bless you in your own searches for Jesus this Christmas!
