Christmas Musings

 What imagery do you picture when you think about the Christmas story? Have you ever thought about the source of that imagery? The Christmas story is so familiar. The narrative of Luke 2 is often read in churches during Advent and in homes before opening Christmas gifts. But most of our imagery is rooted in Christmas cards, Christmas carols, and various Hollywood productions on our televisions. 

I recently looked at the biblical text again and noted some things that might challenge some of our imagery. Granted I don’t consider myself to be a Greek scholar, and I acknowledge up front that some of what I include in this blog might not be true, but it is food for thought as we consider “Christmas Musings.”

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel STOOD  before them and the glory of the Lord shone around THEM and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel SAID to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be for all the people. For there is born to you in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was WITH THE ANGEL a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and SAYING: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” Luke 8-14 NKJV

The shepherds were tasked with the protection of the sheep that they cared for. Each night would have the risk of hungry wild animals or poachers intent on stealing the sheep. Either one would illicit action by the shepherds. 

Enter a strange man standing among the shepherds, not in the clouds above them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, the shepherds, not only the angel. Such an experience would indeed be a scary one. But the angel.spoke, not sang, a message to alleviate their fear, “Do not be afraid.” Then a multitude of angels appeared with the other angel, also not in the clouds, (although I might concede that they could have been in the clouds) saying, not singing, their message. 

So the shepherds left their sheep and sought the Christ child. And not to ruin your beautiful nativity sets, THE WISE MEN WERE NOT THERE! They came on the scene up to two years later, according to Herod’s calculation to order the death of all male children. Read Matthew 2 for this narrative.

So, what is my brain doing in retirement? Just doing some “Christmas Musings.”

Merry Christmas!