December 9 - The Nativity:  A Who’s Who

An Angel of The Lord  (from Luke 2:9)

Angels are like the internet, email, text messaging, Facebook, and the postal service all rolled up in one.  Angels are messengers for God. This particular angel was entrusted with the task of announcing to the shepherds that the promised Messiah had arrived.

So misunderstood - (thanks to Christmas carols, cards and nativity scenes) - some things about this angel that may or may not be true:  The angel is a she. The angel wore white robes and glowed. The angel had wings and a halo. The angel was accompanied by a heavenly choir.

In reality:  The angel probably looked like any other man or woman the shepherds might have encountered that evening.  The shepherds were the ones glowing (see Luke 2:9). The angel was surrounded by a multitude, more like an army than a choir; and they said: “glory to God in the highest” they didn’t sing it.

Voted most likely to:  inspire a line of collectible figurines and terrify shepherds everywhere

Current soundtrack: Angel by Aerosmith, Arms of an Angel by Sarah McLaughlin, and Message in a Bottle, by The Police

Latest Facebook status update:  Based on the teeth chattering and knees knocking, I think they got the message.

A Shepherd (Keeping watch over his flock by night)

Bethlehem Tribune Headline:  Shepherd seen at Messiah’s Birth, Kings and Governors Outraged

In his own words:  “We shepherds live out in the fields, we’re not the classiest bunch of guys that ever lived.   After all, we’re the kind of people who think bathroom humor is funny. We watch sheep all day, we’re brute tough, we’re not all that affectionate, and we are definitely not accustomed to invitations to a labor and delivery room.”

In his personal diary:  “What an honor it was to be called upon by those angels to attend the birth of the long awaited king.  Why would they pick us? Why would I get singled out for this honor? I guess others will question why a shepherd would be there, but for a king born in a stable,  I guess it does make some sense.”

Latest Facebook status update:  That was better than a double rainbow!

Where are they now:

It's most likely that this angel and this shepherd never saw each other again.  Did they know that their exchange would be some of the most memorable lines of our Christmas story?  More importantly, could they have known that a heavenly being and a simple humble shepherd could come together to announce the birth of God in human form?