Cycles A, B,
and C
Christmas
Dawn Mass
ABC4c
Shepherds Visit Baby Jesus, Luke 2:15-20
New American Bible
Luke 1:15-20
New
International Version Luke 1:15-20
After
Jesus was born an angel of the Lord
appeared to shepherds guarding their sheep nearby. The Angel
told them, “In the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Messiah
and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in
swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." All of the people had passed the
word from one generation to another that God was sending a messiah. When the shepherds heard he was born, they
wanted to be among the first to check it out.
They knew the city of David was Bethlehem. Probably there weren’t many stables to check
out. The Inns of those times were a
place where people could put their donkeys, camels, or other animals.
Today you
are the shepherd the angel told to visit the baby, Jesus. Today rejoice because Jesus
was a baby like you and me, a gift from God, our heavenly Father. Today Jesus
might have been born in a taxi cab or an alley in a big city because Joseph and Mary
did not have money to pay the doctors and nurses.
Say the
“Our Father” and pray that people help train poor mothers and fathers and help
them find jobs to get money and/or insurance. Then more babies will be born in
a place where they get the care they deserve.
Remember that on Christmas Day, your greatest gift is Jesus, himself.
“Our Father, who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver
us from evil. Amen.
Copyright © 2006
Joan Y. Edwards
http://www.joanyedwards.com