Luke 2:1-20

Luke gives us in this passage the memories of Mary that she had ‘treasured’ in her heart. What an experience that must have been - a young, trusting herself to God in the face of the threat of rejection from all around! Her situation is made worse by a long journey – probably by foot or mule – when she is in the last months of pregnancy.

But in this place of exposure, where her faith must have been stretched to its limit, God provides powerful reassurance and does not the birth of Jesus to go unmarked. The angel, U assume its Gabriel continuing his work visits those shepherds to tell them to go and visit. I’m sure that the symbolic implication is there – that Jesus is for all, even the lowest of the low – but maybe there is another reason.

Maybe the shepherds in their low life are the ones most likely to have compassion for Mary in her situation. Maybe they are the ones whose hearts go out to those who find themselves in situations of rejection and lowliness in life – there is no risk of a snobbish rejection of a baby in a feeding trough. Maybe the Shepherd would understand.

But as is always the case throughout the birth stories – fear or dread is turned to happiness and joy as those who have responded to the call of God receive their surprising reward.