Christmas

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. - Luke 2:16-18

When I read this most familiar passage, one thing that strikes me time and time again - the excitement.  The shepherds, after an encounter with angels, head off to find what it is the angels were proclaiming. And they found, “Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.”

There were things they did not do.  They did not stand there and ponder.  They did not stand there and discuss if there was some scientific explanation to what has just happened.  They did not go to the prominent clergy of the day and ask their opinion about these events.  They did not go to civil authorities to make sure no laws were being broken.

The Scripture says they simply “spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child…” They were excited!

On this Christmas morning, shouldn’t that be our response also?  While we open presents and admire our trees and share our meals…. Will our excitement this day be centered in the right thing?  Not that there is anything wrong with enjoying our day, and hopefully we all will, but the real excitement comes from knowing that we are celebrating the birth of the Savior; that is the story we have to tell today, tomorrow and every day of our lives.

And may we all be “amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”

Christ is born!

Merry Christmas!