And today, like in a movie, it says “12 years later”. 12 years! That’s a big jump! In the times of Jesus this was the time of the Bar Mitzvah, the rite through which boys entered into manhood, and soon would marry. So, Jesus, too, is almost ready to become a man.
And it makes us wonder what happened in the meantime. What it was like to live with the son of God under the same roof. What it was like for God to grow up in a blue collar family.
From Luke we learn that the Christ family is loyal to their Jewish roots. Every year they faithfully go to Jerusalem and celebrate the festival of the Passover.
But today we hear Jesus has disappeared… for days…
Yea, the night was cold, but it was beaming with hope. Us shepherds don’t have these big words to describe heavenly appearances. That is not our job. But we saw them! … We heard them!! … Them angels… they spoke about our hopes, about their fulfillment. And the angels sang about the end of our misery. And it was amazing! Our crusty, jaded, scarred hearts broke open and a vast, unspeakable joy filled us. Because of their message even the coldest night can’t remain bleak and dark.
JOY TO THE WORLD,
