Luke 2.8-14
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 them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see - I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’
Shepherds are, fittingly, the first to hear about the birth of the Lord who is our shepherd. But the ‘good news of great joy’ is not to be kept to themselves – it is ‘for all the people’. At Christmas, we, too, can hear the great song of the angels shattering the darkness. We are filled with hope to sustain us through every human experience. And we are sent out to love and to serve.