Like many new couples, we spent some time when we were first married planning for our family. When we found out we were expecting, we were so excited we couldn’t wait to tell our friends and family. We invited our parents to dinner and gave each of them a picture frame that said, “Grandma & Grandpa.” My father-in-law smiled, but somehow, we could tell that he didn’t quite get what we were saying. We explained the meaning of our gift, and of course, everyone was overjoyed. Now the preparations could begin.
Fast forward a bit, but not too much, and we found ourselves in quite a different situation. The dinner above would have been around March 2002. Our daughter was due in October of that year, but that wasn’t in the plan, as she was born in June. We didn’t have her room ready or even a name picked out! When we started to share the news that she had been born, there was a mixture of joy and skepticism. How could this happen so soon?
Now, think about the story in this Bible passage. The Israelites had been waiting 700-plus years for the birth of Jesus! On the one hand, you might say they had all the time in the world to prepare for this event. But then, when you have been waiting this long, you probably start to wonder if it is ever going to happen. Were they prepared? Are we prepared today?
The news was a surprise to some, but not all. When the angel appeared to tell the news to the shepherds, they were overcome with emotion and made the journey to see the baby for themselves. The long wait was finally over, and the news could be told throughout the world.
Reflection:
- What does it mean that the angels appeared first to a group of shepherds in the desert? What does this tell you about God?
- While there are always going to be surprises, what steps are you putting in place to ensure you are ready for the next big event?