Like the prophets or like Israel from of old, the shepherds saw the glory of the Lord with their own eyes. They heard the message that a Savior – the Christ – had been born for them. They were told where to find him. This was an unprecedented invitation to see God’s greatest promises fulfilled! Such good news. What a joyful proclamation! So when the angels left, the shepherds decided to go. I’m sure you have watched some of the touching, emotional videos of child or a spouse being surprised by the return of their parent or spouse from military service. After a moment of stunned unbelief, they usually run to their loved one or throw themselves into strong, waiting arms. Their surprise turns to excited celebration or tears of joy. They’re here! This is not the time to hold back but to rush together in love. They went with haste. After generations, the promise was fulfilled. Let us go… and see. Shepherds are pragmatists. They heard the angel, so they knew where to go. They didn’t search the finest homes or the nicest inns of Bethlehem. The angel said the baby would be lying in a manger, so they went where no one else would think to look. The only logical place. The stables. Despite our usual depictions of Christmas, the glory of the Lord wasn’t flashing out like lightening. They didn’t strain their ears trying to hear again the sound of the angelic armies. No halos or radiant beams identified the Lord. No, they found the simplest of things. A man and woman. A baby wrapped in cloths, laid on the straw. This humblest of things was here in the roughest conditions. That’s what they saw. The strange circumstances were the sign. This is the One. This ordinary looking baby in the humblest of places was the promised one. A Savior has been born. Christ – the Messiah – has arrived. This little baby is the Lord. This helpless infant is the king of the universe. This vulnerable child is the creator of all. Such a mystery. When the shepherds saw it, “they made known the saying that had been told them concerning the child.” They brought their story to the manger. Can you imagine? These shepherds are telling Mary and Joseph who their child is! It’s as if they don’t realize that Mary and Joseph knew the identity of their child! Perhaps they felt sheepish when thinking about this later, but truly, they acted well. They came. They saw. They gave witness. We can follow them. Come and see. This is the promised One, born in the humblest of places. A tiny baby in the roughest conditions. But he has come for you. Prayer: Christ our Lord, we marvel at the love you showed when you took on our flesh and came to be our redeemer. Thank you for sharing our life, and thank you for giving us your life. Amen.