Tall men were these, the shepherds come from flocks and wearing sheep hides with the dew still wet upon the wool…No further movement till the youngest, kneeling still, moved on from out the rest, and when his eyes had marked the swaddling bands…and did not shrink at what he saw. The full words spilled out to her in eagerness of quiet flocks, the brightness of the sky…The music that had sifted down, more fragile than the light of stars…The up swept choirs and surge and flight of wings: I bring you tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people: for this day is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.…Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace to men of good will.

Excerpts from A Woman Wrapped In Silence by John W. Lynch, reprinted by permission of Paulist Press, Inc.

For Reflection:

How swiftly the shepherds respond! How quickly do I respond to the call of God? What causes me to hold back an immediate response? The angels tell the shepherds, “I bring you tiding of great joy…” How can these words encourage me to respond more quickly? Why do you think it is the youngest who tells Mary about what he saw? Think of this in light of Isaiah 11:6 and Jesus words in Mark 10:14; what thoughts do you have?

In Conversation With God Vol 1 Advent/Christmas Francis Fernandez-Carvajal Pb 387 pgs

Jesus, Mary and Joseph were alone. But God sought out simple people as their companions: some shepherds, perhaps because, as they were humble, they would not be dismayed at finding the Messiah in a cave, wrapped in swaddling clothes. That night they are the first and only people to learn the news....The men of that night welcomed the news; they experienced great joy - the joy that comes forth from light.  The world's darkness overcome by the light of the birth of God...