To us a Child is Born

I originally started writing this for Christmas, but I had this thought at the time to save it for Holy Week.

I've recently watched A Charlie Brown Christmas.  I knew that towards the end, Linus would recite the verses from Luke 2.  After the film, I went back to Luke to read this for myself.  I think I must have read this tons of times before and often times when I read scripture, I often think of all the funny things that could happen.  I can imagine that all the shepherds were quite startled by the sudden appearance of an angel of the Lord as they were filled with great fear.  Like, "Yowzers!  What in the world??"  

In this particular story of the Gospel, the angel appeared to shepherds.  Not kings or priests, nor any teachers or leaders of the Jewish community.  This to me shows the character of God, that He would show us his grace and humbleness in picking ordinary people to share in His extraordinary story of Christ, and that Christ is for all people.

'And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths 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,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”'

(Luke 2:8-14)

So much of this story is focused on the birth of Christ as a human baby but it also foreshadows what is to come.  When Mary marveled at this child and kept her thoughts to herself, was she thinking that someday this child will be driven into a cross?  God chose an ordinary woman to bear the Christ, He chose a carpenter to be his earthly father, and Jesus was amongst the poor, sick, and those who didn't belong to society.  Ordinary people to share and witness the extraordinary life of Jesus.