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"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.' When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.' So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them" (Luke 2.13-18).

I have often wondered what it must have been like to be among that group of shepherds who had their routine interrupted with what must have been both an amazing and confusing message. What led them to go and check things out - faith, curiosity or a little of both? Would I have gone or settled back into my routine?

Whatever led those shepherds to immediately head for Bethlehem must have been only strengthened and confirmed when they gazed upon the truth of the angels' news.

I wonder, what I would have done with that scene? Would I have celebrated the personal blessing, felt good about my experience and headed back to life as usual, or would I have done what the shepherds actually did - spend the rest of my night and perhaps the rest of my life spreading the word concerning what I had been told and had seen?

How passionate would I be in that sharing? How long would the passion remain?

As we approach another Christmas, I praise God for you and your passion for sharing the news of the angels. Your commitment to the Good News of Jesus Christ is making the world around us different.

My prayer for you and for me is that, as we move through these days, we will experience the freshness of the angels' message and proclaim with great boldness the truth of Jesus that we know. I'm expecting God to bring people looking for hope, life and good news to our churches this Christmas season; and I'm praying that, like the shepherds of old, we will not waste any time spreading the word - the marvelous word that, "Today, in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!" May we share the news quickly, faithfully and constantly!

In closing, let me share a Christmas blessing penned by Howard Thurman: "When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with the flocks, then the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal those broken in spirit, to feed the hungry, to release the oppressed, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among all peoples, to make a little music with the heart...And to radiate the light of Christ, every day, in every way, in all that we do and in all that we say. Then the work of Christmas begins."

Merry Christmas!

(Bishop Webb is leader of the Methodist Church for the Upper New York area.)[[In-content Ad]]

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