The Great Announcement

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were filled with with fear." Luke 2:8-9

And there are in this country ... people abiding ....

People who speak the same language but do not understand.
People who work together but do not know each other.
People who walk the same streets, visit the same shopping centers,
attend the same churches, eat in the same restaurants.
People from all walks and conditions of life -- weak and strong,
old and young, educated and uneducated, busy and idle,
those who believe and those who do not care,
those who live by purpose and those who drift.

 

And in this country there are people abiding who are of different races and cultures:

some because their ancestors lived here and
others who have come more recently as immigrants and refugees.

 

And there are in this same country people abiding, and

they, too, are filled with fear.
they lock their doors,
they hide their jewelry and valuables.
they do not walk their streets at night.
They are filled with fear for they do not trust each other.

 

And there are abiding in this country people keeping watch:

Ministers
Doctors
Nurses
Teachers
Parents
And they, too, are filled with fear.

 

And over this country, God, you are keeping watch ...
just as you are watching over other countries as well.

 

"And the angel of the Lord said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy...." Luke 2:10

 

We live in a world that continually bombards us with bad news:

murder
corruption
injustice
war
hunger
pain and suffering

 

We begin to believe that expression: "No News is Good News."
We expect to hear only the bad news, and it is true that bad news continues.

But listen ... there is also Good News

Good News that breaks into our very lives in the midst of the bad. Oh, how we long for that Good News:

news that the surgery was successful
news of family reconciliation
news of the birth of a child.

 

This is what Christmas is all about: Good News in the midst of the bad.

The birth of One who is himself "Good News of a great joy!"

 

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior...."

 

Good News unto whom?

Not to Herod in his palace at Jerusalem;
Not to Augustus Caesar on his throne in mighty Rome;
Not to the chief priests and scribes and mighty leaders of this earth;

But to shepherds abiding in the fields;
To the humble, to the lowly,
To expectant hearts of the common people.

 

To these comes the Good News of the birth of the long-expected Messiah -- the One sent by God to establish God's kingdom and rule forever with justice and righteousness. To these came the Great Announcement.

And so it is today. God still comes with Good News
to those who are frightened,
to humble, ordinary people with expectant hearts.
And the message is still the same today:
"...to you is born this day ... a savior."

Herman