shepherds

Come and see!

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When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Luke 2:15 NLT

When our new Lead Minister joined St. Andrew’s this fall, he suggested “Come and See” as a first sermon series for us to tackle together. It was a great series. The big idea at the core of it was that God has always invited people to “come and see” what the Kingdom is all about, what our faith is all about.

This verse reminds us of that. The Shepherds are having a “come and see” moment – they have been told about what God has done for them, but God doesn’t leave them with just this heavenly message – as awesome as that was. God includes details in the message so that the Shepherds can check it out for themselves.

And the Shepherds take God up on the invitation. They go and they check it out with their own two eyes.

Where ever you may be spending Christmas Eve, I hope that you can “come and see” what the Lord has done for you. I hope that you have a place to worship where you can hear the story, sing the songs, and gather in community.

If you are in Brampton or the surrounding area, please “come and see” at St. Andrew’s. We have a number of services, and I hope one (or more!) will suit your needs:

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 44 Church St. E, Brampton


4pm – Family Interactive Service: Carols and the story told in a way that the young (and the young-at-heart) can hear it and enjoy it.
7:30pm – Carols and Lessons: Our Leap of Faith band (mini-orchestra, really) and choir will present the music, the youth of our church will do the readings, the house will be packed and noisy, it’s a joyful celebration.
10pm – Candlelight Communion: a quiet, intimate service which includes communion. Come and worship.

Emotional complications…

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With the tragic shootings a Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut have come a whole slew of different reactions. Some call for the banning of assault weapons, others wonder whether teachers should carry guns. Some find comfort in the thought of these children being united with Jesus in heaven, others cannot find any comfort at all. I read an article today that said this is not the time for dancing or celebrating anything. I certainly respect anyone who feels their grief too keenly to engage in any celebration at the moment, but I also know there are others who find that even in their sorrow there is cause for celebration…there are reasons to smile and laugh. Life never occurs in a vacuum, or in neat, compartmentalized boxes.

It’s kind of a mess, and things are mixed up together. At every funeral I have ever presided over, there has been laughter through the tears. And I believe that’s the way it is meant to be. A life lived fully is a life where conflicting emotions are experienced together. Where joy and sorrow meet. Where the cradle dwells in the shadow of the cross. Where defeat and victory are experienced in the same event. That’s what Jesus’ story is all about. We have a way of white-washing it, of making it all pretty and nice, but the mess always existed in the story.

Take the shepherds and the angels for example:

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:8-12

Do you see that little phrase in the center of the passage? “They were terrified.” All heaven is breaking loose, with the best news ever, but the shepherds were terrified.

Because life is kind of messy, and you don’t expect all heaven to break loose in the midst of the night shift. Terror in the midst of joy. That is the mess of life. These things go together, and make the story more beautiful, in the end.

Not to give tomorrow’s passage away, but the shepherds will turn from terror into rejoicing. They will find their joy.

But for me, I’m glad to read that little phrase in the center of this passage. I am glad to know that I’m not the only one who knows what it means to feel more than one emotion at once. I’m glad to get to live this messy, confused, crazy life. And to know that it doesn’t always have to make sense.

Joy and sorrow can coexist within us, because God made us to be emotionally complex beings. I hope you can find some joy, even when sorrow seems to be all around. I hope, like the shepherds, though you may feel terror, you will not dwell there indefinitely. I hope you can hear the good news of great joy that is for all the people.