Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.”
NL Daily Devotion for Saturday, December 25, 2021
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Main Idea: In the midst of the ordinary, the Christ child brings the extraordinary into existence.
What a strange little story! A group of ordinary shepherds were tending to their sheep, as they had every night before, and would every night after. But this night angels (!) disrupted their monotony with a proclamation of a savior born in the town below.
What a strange little story! A young woman gives birth to a baby boy, as women have done for generations, and would do for generations to come. But on this night, shepherds (!) disrupted the ordinary event with an extraordinary proclamation that angels had announced his birth.
What a strange little story! A small gathering of worshipers meet together in a sanctuary as they have done every Sunday before and would do every Sunday after. But on this Saturday (!) angels and shepherds (!!) disrupt the ordinary gathering with a proclamation that a child born 2000 years ago continues to disrupt lives even today.
Despite the story’s familiarity to those who have heard it before, there is nothing ordinary about this child. The reason we continue to gather for worship is that this child is still alive and active in this world. This child brings healing where hope for healing has been lost. This child brings peace to war-torn lands when peace seems impossible. This child brings restoration to individuals, families, communities, countries, and even the entire earth.
We have been given a gift. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we can spend one quiet moment gathered together in a familiar space with familiar faces and familiar carols to look and see the face, the words, the effect of an extraordinary child born 2000 years ago, and still alive today.