The magi... they were travelers from the east who'd arrived in Jerusalem asking some unpopular questions. Clearly, word had gotten out that a baby - THE baby that was the Messiah - had been born. What should have been a serene, blessed event turned into unrestrained jealousy and evil... a path not so different from our much more recent past and even our present.

5th Day of Christmas

Imagine the shepherds, awestruck over what they’d just witnessed. They were 'in the fields, abiding' as the song goes and has just witnessed a great spectacle of heavenly glory. They did not waste any time to go check out what they’d been told about the baby. What did they see and experience once they got to him?

4th Sunday of Advent

The appearance of the angel in Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus is where all these songs originate. The angel proclaims the good news of Jesus’ birth to a small group of shepherds who likely envisioned their night going a bit differently. And then,“suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others - the armies of heaven - praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.” Luke 2:13

Then it’s all over and the angels return to heaven. Imagine those shepherds, awestruck over what they’d just witnessed. Glory to God indeed!