Christmas Midnight or Christmas Day
Luke2: 1-20
A Most Amazing Thing
I wonder, what is the most amazing thing that has happened to you in your life? Whatever the event, there was probably an element of excitement. Perhaps there was also a sense of trepidation—why is this happening to me? What will it mean for my future?
If you have felt any or all of these emotions, you may be able to relate closely to the shepherds looking after their sheep on the hillside overlooking Bethlehem on that first Christmas night. They were the first to hear of the birth of the baby who would be called Jesus, the Christ child, through whom God would once again become the shepherd of His people.
A Career as a Shepherd
Being a shepherd in that place, all those years ago, was not considered a prestigious career. Shepherds were ordinary people and, in many ways, looked down upon by society. Their way of life often meant breaking the religious laws and codes of their time, leaving them marginalised and excluded. Yet, these were the people chosen to receive the incredible news.
Was it because they would identify with the child—the baby born in a stable because there was no room for his parents in the inns or guesthouses? Was it because the child and the shepherds shared a sense of vulnerability? Whatever the reason, it was this group of people who experienced something extraordinary. Their account, using the language of angels, reveals their conviction that this message was truly from God.
A Choice to Make
The shepherds faced a choice: to go or not to go. Responding positively carried risk. Leaving their sheep meant exposing them to predators like wolves or the risk of theft. Yet, they took the chance and followed the sign they were given. What persuaded them to say yes? Perhaps it was the angels’ words: God’s favour was now for all people—even shepherds like them, often viewed as outsiders.
Their decision meant they became the first witnesses to God entering creation in such an intimate way. Through the birth of Jesus, God fully embraced humanity, sharing our experiences completely.
Huddling for Warmth
Picture the stable’s darkness and the new family huddled together in the straw for warmth. This is how the shepherds found God—a fragile newborn baby, described as the Light of the World. The Gospel of John later summarises Jesus’ life as
“a light shining in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.”
The artist Rembrandt captured this perfectly in a painting of the nativity scene. In the dim stable, his skill makes the only visible light emanate from the manger,where the baby lies.
Your Christmas Card
Have you received a Christmas card this year with a message that touched you? A priest colleague once shared a card he received from grieving parents who had tragically lost their daughter. The message on the card simply read, “The light still shines.” Simple and beautiful words, expressing the hope that Jesus brings.
A Transformative Encounter
The shepherds’ visit to the stable was transformative. They returned to their flocks profoundly changed, eager to share the news of God’s presence with humanity. These marginalised outsiders, who first heard and responded to the message, became the first messengers of the good news.
Interestingly, we never learn the names of the shepherds. Unlike the magi, later given names such as Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar, the shepherds remain anonymous. Perhaps this is because they were seen as less important—But it does allow us to step into their shoes or sandals.
In the Shoes of the Shepherds
Because the shepherds are unnamed, we can easily identify with them. We too may feel on the margins, undeserving or unwanted. Yet the angels’ message is clear: God’s favour and love are for all people, including us.
In our worship this Christmas, we are invited to enter the stable, to encounter Christ’s light in the midst of darkness, and to be transformed by the experience. Like the shepherds, we too can leave amazed and eager to share this light with everyone we meet.
