by Rev. Herbert Nichols

Now there were shepherds in the region keeping night watch over their flocks. And the angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone all around them.

Suddenly and without warning it came upon the midnight clear shattering the stillness and the sleep. Awake 0 shepherds and go to Bethlehem and there you will find new meaning, new purpose, new relationship in your life.

Do not be afraid for behold I proclaim to you good news of great joy.

Never again will you be despised as having a menial task, or as being derelicts, worthless scruff on the edge of society. A whole new dignity will descend upon you as Jesus will one day dignify Himself by calling Himself the good and gentle shepherd.

Today in the city of David a Savior has been born for you who is Christ the Lord.

The first reading from all four Christmas Masses is from the prophet Isaiah who tells of the restoration of Jerusalem from total destruction. This morning’s passage proclaims boldly: Your savior has come and your are made holy by this coming.

Isaiah makes it clear that we are made holy by God’s presence in our midst. He is Emmanuel. No longer do we sing for him to come Veni, Veni Immanuel. Now He is in our presence and we sing: Venite Adoremus, 0 Come Let us Adore Him.

Then the angels left and the shepherds said to one another: Let us go to Bethlehem, to see for ourselves, this which the Lord has made know to us.

By his presence, by our being in His presence, we can see that we are no longer forsaken or abandoned. In the second reading Paul likewise makes it clear that the Good News has nothing to do with commandments and laws. He says, "not because of any righteous deeds that we have done, but because of God’s mercy."

They went in haste, without hesitation, to find Mary and Joseph and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw, they made known the message that had been told to them; and all were amazed by what the shepherds told...

There is something about human nature that makes us skeptical of a love that is offered unconditional, or without expectation of return; that is spontaneous, gratuitous, and of pure heart. When we are told that we are loved, we look for a motive or hidden agenda, what the other person is seeking to get from it. Or we consider how such a love will require some repayment somehow, and may even limit our freedom.

Meanwhile, Mary, his mother, kept still, reflecting on all of these things in her heart.

It shows us that not everyone reacts in the same way to the gospel. There are those whose nature practically compels them to shout out secrets. And there are others whose nature is to remain silent and reflective, processing and sorting intellectually and emotionally.

Perhaps it is because we are use to rationalizing, to learn by experience and logic; but there is another form of learning called intuitive. It’s how the infant learns from his parents. It’s how these shepherds, simple and unschooled, learned from what they saw and heard in that Bethlehem manger.

These shepherds saw and they understood. When we likewise see with the eyes of faith, a new dignity surrounds our home, our work, our joy, our neighborhood, our world.

Then the shepherds returned to their pastures glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.

The birth of a new baby always makes a profound impact upon a family. A new baby thoroughly alters the lifestyle, the schedules of parents and siblings. He will leave a mark by his character and temperament, his needs and desires, difficulties and accomplishments. He likewise will absorb all the virtues and prejudices, the talents and wisdom, the spirits and traditions of his family ancestors.

The entire human family converges around the birth of this child. This child is named Jesus, his glory becomes our hope, and his image becomes our reflection. It is not just one baby whose birth we celebrate, but the birth of a whole nation, and world, and universe, with peace and good will among men.

But we must make Christmas a reality in the present, in the present of every moment throughout the year, each and every day. Some may feel compelled to shout out the news that they have to tell everyone whether good or bad; while others remain silent and prayerful, remembering for another time. Actually, the mature Christian does both.

By emulating both the enthusiasm of the shepherds boldly telling the story and Mary’s contemplative waiting and caring, we find that brand of joy that is found only in the presence of God.