Words of Advent: Behold

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.  ~ Luke 2:8-19

I was at a Bible Study once where someone told me about an article they read that said that, despite what we say, Jesus is not the reason for the season.
Hmmm...I'll bet not many of us would agree to that on first hearing.
But the article made a strong case, said my friend.
The reason for the season, according to the author, was us.
For us, God stepped down into a smelly barn to be born in poverty as a refugee among animals and strangers.
God came for the world - including for the least likely. For the broken. For the hurting. For the poor and disenfranchised.
And to announce this coming, God's messengers went to a group of outcasts: shepherds.
And the first worshippers after the shepherds were not kings, though that is what we have called them.
They were magicians. Men from another place and faith. Gentiles.
Outsiders.
All of these strangers came to behold the Christ child.
Who came for us.
God is always reaching out and claiming us. Calling us, searching for us. 
Beholding us.
Loving us.
The reason for the season is that unfathomable love. That everlasting, uncompromising, all-encompassing love.
So this Christmas, look. See. Behold.
This day is for you. For you God became flesh and dwelt among us.

Come, Lord Jesus! Amen

(This devotional will be taking a short break until January 4th. Merry Christmas! And may the peace of Christmas gladden your hearts!)

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