Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/1433252
13 DECEMBER AN UNEXPECTED INTERRUPTION Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight: Glories stream from heaven afar, Heav'nly hosts sing, "Alleluia! Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born!" Luke 2:8-15 What is on your to-do list for today? Is it full of work and school obligations, family commitments and holiday preparation? Or are you expecting another day of the familiar routine? What would be different about this day if you knew that Jesus was coming back today? "In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And so the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord'" (Luke 2:8-11). I love this passage in Luke because I imagine these shepherds are in the field completing their familiar routine for the evening focusing their attention on protecting their sheep, being ever vigilant for predators and other dangers to their livelihood, when suddenly they are interrupted by something completely unexpected. The night around them is silent, but in the same region, not far away from where they labored, God Himself had burst for th His glorious presence in the ear th, and made His presence known to them through the angelic messenger. "And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.' When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, 'Let's go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us'" (Luke 2:13-15). We do not know the exact day or the exact hour that Jesus will return to ear th. What we do know is that it will be a glorious day for those who know Him and a terrifying day for those who do not. As we prepare our hear ts and minds during this season of Advent to celebrate the bir th of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, let's continue to pray for and reach out to those who do not know Jesus in the pardoning of their sins and remain ever vigilant in our own walk with the Lord because He might surprise us all and come back today! Rev. Deborah Barr, MDiv, Director, Washington DC Extension Campus and Alumna Silent Night Lyrics by Joseph Mohr (1818), composed by Franz Xaver Gruber (1818)