May Jesus Christ be praised and may his holy Mother pray for
us.
It was an unexpected invitation. The shepherds in the field, who were keeping
watch over their flocks by night, received an unexpected announcement and an
unexpected invitation. The angel of Lord
brought the shepherds the announcement of the birth of the Savior and the
invitation to come to Bethlehem. And the
shepherds went in haste to see this great thing that had occurred.
Mary and Joseph were unexpected visitors. The innkeeper had received unexpected
visitors in the City of David. It was
not the angel of the Lord that brought this announcement to the innkeeper, but
a humble carpenter from Nazareth and his pregnant wife. There was no room in the inn, but there was
room in the stable. The animals in the
stable would make room for the Savior.
When the shepherds came to Bethlehem, they brought a gift for
the Son of God. It was not the gold,
frankincense and myrrh that the magi would bring much later. It was not the riches of a kingdom. The shepherds’ only possession was the flock
entrusted to their care, and the gift the shepherds brought was the gift of
their presence. At the invitation of an
angel, the shepherds came to welcome the child Jesus.
The shepherds gave the gift of their presence, and the
animals gave him a place in their home.
The animals made room in their home for Mary, for Joseph, and for the
baby Jesus. They would not reject
him. They would not fear him. They would only welcome him.
Tonight it is not the voice of an angel that invites you to
Bethlehem. It is not the voice of an
angel or the choirs of the hosts of heaven that announces the good news that
the Savior has been born for you. It is
the voice of a shepherd who wants to give his flock to Jesus on this most holy
night.
The Lord Jesus asks for the gift of your presence. He asks for some room in your home. That is the gift that he wants from you. He wants the gift of your presence and a
place in your home.
And dear brothers and sisters, dear beloved children of the
Most High God, the Lord Jesus has a precious gift for each of you. It is the gift of his presence, and a place
in his home.
Merry Christmas. Amen.
Preached at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic
Church, Monroe, NC
