Dec 1st, 2020: Christmas Blessings - Don't be surprised if God talks to you

 The shepherds hear the news of Jesus' birth | Catholic Courier

Have you met people who have such a low self-understanding that they expect very little out of life? They go about it with the idea that no one cares about who they are and what they are doing in life. They feel safe if no one bothers them, and they disturb no one. They go on with life without much hope and dream. They are afraid of trying something new because they think they might screw it up.


The first Christmas account tells that one of the Blessings of God is that He is reaching out to these types of people. He sees something in them that we might have missed. Shepherds were these people at the time of Jesus' birth. The angel appeared to them and told them about the great news of the coming of the Messiah exclusively and specifically. He gave them instructions about where to find Jesus.


The Christmas account reveals to us that no one is too low and too unimportant to God. As we dig further into the Christmas account, we learn that God is at work among all people. Sometimes God shows Himself to those who have been overlooked and put down by their society or people. I am not sure our churches model themselves after Jesus in the way we go about our ministry. Have we been tempted to side with the powerful and the privileged of our time?


Here is what was written in Luke 2: 8-12:


"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."


How about us? What has God chosen to reveal to us about His plan for the world? Are we so engulfed in our self-pity and fear that we cannot hear Him?

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