by Holly Culhane
Have you ever thought of your work as drudgery? Same job. Same tasks. Same co-workers. Day after day after day.
I wonder if the ancient shepherds of Israel ever felt that way. With their sheep 24/7. Night after night. The same bleating. Repeatedly. Despised when they entered a town or village. Alone when they stayed on the hillside.
Until that night…
That night, some shepherds were out in the fields near Bethlehem watching their sheep.
Luke 2:8
Amid what could be viewed as drudgery – ordinary work on an ordinary night, shepherds on a hillside doing their job – nothing was ordinary anymore. This shift was different…
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord was shining around them. The shepherds were very afraid. The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid. I have some very good news for you — news that will make everyone happy. Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is the Messiah, the Lord. This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.” Then a huge army of angels from heaven joined the first angel, and they were all praising God, saying,“Praise God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace to the people who please him.”
Luke 2:9-14
From ordinary to extraordinary in milli-seconds. From one angel to a host of angels in the time it takes to speak five sentences. From hoping for a Messiah, to being led directly to Him.
From what could seem like drudgery on a hillside, to running to find Mary, Joseph, and the baby…
The angels left the shepherds and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this great event the Lord has told us about.” So they went running and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the feeding box.
Luke 2:15-16
No ordinary night. No ordinary shift. The Messiah has come…
