Tell Whom?

The Christmas season is always rushed. By Mid-November, one can buy a Thanksgiving turkey and Christmas decorations in the same store. Through the five years I have written, I’ve tried to focus these four Advent offerings on words or actions or Biblical passages to move the season out of the commercial realm. Be warned, this year I am traveling through Epiphany focusing on five songs that set the time for me. Feel free to substitute

Since the time of creation, God had been dropping hints that one more step needed to be taken to have a perfect man to God connection. Prophecies that were clear and some that maybe were not so understandable. Then that long time of silence. Wrapping up provided a carpenter and a teen-age bride who will be a family. Throw in a king who decides to move players like chessmen to be at the appropriate place pre-mentioned. One waits for babies to be born and eventually the waiting is over. Who gets the good news? It’s not the most well know carol, yet it’s meaningful to me for one line. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks. Then that picture setting moment…all sitting on the ground.

They are not the most important people in town, certainly are not the high priest. I like to see them sprawled out in their costume -like brown tunics talking quietly, so they won’t upset the sheep. If they were men I grew up with they would be smoking a pipe and one maybe scratching a dog behind his ear. Then the news breaks out and all they need to know is told by a calming angel. (More about that next week) For now this is the information and they are the first to know. The babe is born in David’s town, wrapped in swaddling clothes and in a manger laid. The music never gets louder or faster, just spins out the word we hold true to this day, Good will henceforth from heav’n to men ,begin and never cease!” Pay attention, you may be given the news.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

Luke 2:10