We rejoice, for the Light of the World has come to darkness. Jesus Christ is the Light that no darkness can overcome. Advent is a season of preparation as God’s people watch and wait for Christ. We will be pondering the songs found in the gospel of Luke. The song of an old priest named Zechariah. Mary, the pregnant teenager. And angels come to shepherds in the countryside. We ponder these songs and rejoice.
Invocation
Make the sign of the cross, and say,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. The light no darkness can overcome.
Jesus, open our eyes to your light and our ears to your words of hope. Come, O long-expected Jesus. Our hope is in you. Amen.
Word: Luke 2:8-9
“There were shepherds living out in the field nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified.”
Meditation: Message for the Ordinary
Today’s meditation is written by Susan Senechal.
Ordinary people on an ordinary day (or in this case night) doing ordinary things. Just another day at the office—if your office is the fields in the hills near Bethlehem. Ordinary people doing ordinary things, not even having the first clue about what was about to happen. Ordinary people who probably didn’t have any idea how much they needed what was about to happen.
And into that ordinary arrives the extraordinary. No, not really the angel (although that isn’t exactly ordinary.) The angel is just the messenger. The message is extraordinary, bringing light to the ordinary place: dark places are illuminated. Maybe the shepherds can see some of the figurative wolves waiting just beyond the pasture, waiting to devour them. Or maybe they felt the presence of the wolves, but never really knew what it was. The shepherds are afraid. Sore afraid. When the hidden places are illuminated, when secrets are no longer covered by the dark, the aches that you have lived with become unbearable.
That’s when the extraordinary happens—into those terrifying, aching, hidden and yet ordinary places, the angel says, “Fear not, I bring you good news.” News not just for you, it’s for all: To you is born a Savior! You don’t have to live in those dark, hidden, achy places any more. God has sent a Savior. Christ. The Lord.
Then one angel is joined by many more—a great company—and they are praising God and saying, “Peace to those on whom his favor rests.” No need to fear, the angels sing; you can have peace because God’s favor rests on you.
I don’t know about you, but I am those shepherds, living my ordinary life, often unaware of those dark places and the wolves waiting to devour, but desperately in need of the message of peace. I long for it, thirst for it, and can only breathe in deeply when I really hear the message the angels bring.
Yes, I am the shepherd in need of the extraordinary message, but I am also the angel. Luke 2:17-18 says, “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.” The shepherds, blessed by the good news, become the messengers, the angels to others, themselves bringing light to others who may have had no idea what it was they needed.
What about you? Have you heard the message of peace: Are you ready to be a peace-bearing messenger to another ordinary person? Who are you sent to? To whom can you bring good news of great joy?
Dear Jesus, illuminate our dark places and drive out the darkness, instead filling us with peace. Then help us to be messengers of peace to the ordinary people we know who desperately need it. Amen.
Closing Prayer
Lord God, Heavenly Father, in this weary world, the valley of the shadow of death, grant me rest in your illuminating love and eternal life. Amen!