How about reading the Christmas story? What do ya say? Ah, c’mon. You can do it! It’s not that long. It’s actually quite amazing how much impact this very short story has had on our culture. So ya, how about reading Luke 1:26-2:20....

 

(I know you’re thinking about moving on without reading the passage, but I know that trick. Yep. I’ll wait ... I know you’ll come around. You will. You’ll read it. I trust you.... It’ll happen ...)

 

There!!! You did it!! You read the Christmas story! Merry Christmas!! And to all a good night. Now, let’s think about it. Like, what’s up with the shepherds? These guys weren’t really the type that had big religious experiences with angels. There were more of the type who would sit around the campfire and spit into the fire. They lived in fields and well, they probably didn’t have showers. They may have rolled into the pond every now and then but it’s hard to picture them as real fresh, smell-nice kinda people. They took care of sheep. Their part in the universe was a very small one. On the ladder of importance, they were hanging out near the bottom rung. They weren’t known for their fresh insight into the ways of God either. They didn’t teach the Bible. They didn’t have holy reputations. They brought their sheep to the temple and then went back to the fields. When important religious events took place, the shepherds weren’t invited.

Until one day. One big day. One day when God showed up. In a stable. You know the story. You just read it. And you heard their invitation ... but it sounded normal because they’re always part of the Christmas story. But ya know, it’s anything but "normal." It’s wild. It’s crazy. It’s like Jean Cretien inviting you to his Christmas party. It’s like Michael Jordan inviting you to his work-out. It’s like Brittany Spears inviting you to sing with her. It doesn’t make any sense. Shepherds!!! Dirty, stinky, loser shepherds!!!! Why did they get invited?! Why are they the FIRST to be invited! What’s up with that?!! Shouldn’t God have invited the religious leaders or the Bible teachers?

Take this in. Don’t let the familiar story whiz through your brain. God didn’t pick important people who have it all figured out. God picked shepherds - ordinary, dirty people who likely didn’t know what to do. They didn’t know all the big religious words and who knows, when they saw the Christ-child they might have sworn. And what they saw was so amazing they ran away and told people about it... So, let this sink in. Feeling unimportant? Feeling dirty? Feeling like you’re on the outside? Feeling like you don’t have the right experience? The right words? Good. Then you are probably at the top of God’s invitation list this Christmas.

LORD, I don’t feel like I have stuff figured out so good. I don’t know how to say the right thing and I don’t do the right thing that much. When I picture a holy, perfect child in a manger, it’s hard to feel like I am welcome. I need to hear you telling me that I really am welcome to come to you. I need you to bust in to my life. Give me the ears to hear and the courage to respond. As I am. No pretending. Just coming. Help me come. Show me too how I can invite others to come. Forgive me if I have made someone feel excluded from You. Use me to share the good news. You’re here. In. IN in. In the world. In me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Lance Wright is from Hamilton, Ontario, where he lives with his wife Peg and their two sons, James and Nathan. Lance is Pastoral Associate at St. John United Church, and has inspired youth in and beyond church settings for many years. Lance coordinates the Youth Eventz Christmas and Easter services.)