Advent Hymn Reflection - While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around,
“Fear not!” said he, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind.
“Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and humankind"

“To you, in David’s town, this day
Is born of David’s line
A Savior, who is Christ the Lord,
And this shall be the sign,
 “The heavenly Babe you there shall find
To human view displayed,
All humbly wrapped in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid,"

Thus spake the seraph and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song,

“All glory be to God on high,
And to the Earth be peace;
Good will to all from highest heaven
Begin and never cease!”

We will hear the Christmas story a number of times over the next week.  We will hear pieces from a number of Gospels and maybe a bit from Isaiah as well.  Each Gospel points to different "important points" that the authors think essential to The Story.  We will fit it all together into a picture of sheep, goats, Wise Men, Shepherds and a hay filled trough.  But what if we took out the picture of the Nativity?  Would your faith be affected if the only Gospel we had was that as told by Paul? 

Romans 1:1b-4 says: "...The gospel of God, which was promised beforehand through the prophets in the holy scriptures, it is the gospel concerning the Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord."

We have the story of the birth, a wonderful narrative of gifts, visitors, and a families faith in God's plan for them, but the narrative does not make Jesus our Lord or Christ.  It is God's everlasting promise, God's covenants with Abraham, Noah, and all of Creation.  The story that leads to the Nativity is the story that leads to the cross and continues through Easter and into our lives today.  We are children of the Covenant, in a relationship with God who is seen in this world most perfectly in the form of Jesus. 

The Shepherds did not have the story of Christmas, but they understood who God was and knew they were part of a special story.  As we celebrate the story of the birth, may we also be part of the song bringing Glory to God for fulfilling the promises of Covenant.  May we continue to bring Glad Tidings to the world not because of a beautiful story but because the beautiful story is part of The Story.  The Story of all of us, all created in God's image and loved by God.  For it is for all humankind that Jesus comes to fulfill God's promises to the world.  Let us take that message forth in all we say and do so all may know God's love.