The Nativity of the Lord: "Which Shepherd?" Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min

I have always loved the shepherds in the Christmas story. And it might have a little to do with having played the part of the shepherd every year in the Christmas play in the little Church where I grew up. I was always a shepherd every year. I never got to be Joseph. I never got to be one of the Magi. My sister got to be an angel, and I was always a shepherd. Maybe God was trying to tell me something early on. I have always loved the shepherds in the Christmas story.

And playing a shepherd every year, I started to wonder what the shepherds were doing when the angel of the Lord showed up. Oh, I know that they were keeping the night watch over their flocks. I know that they were counting sheep to stay awake. But I really started to wonder what the shepherds were thinking before the angel of the Lord showed up.

It was a good year for one shepherd. There was a lot of growth in his flock. New sheep were born this year. There were many things to be thankful for this year. There were lots of things to celebrate this year. He was thinking about the joys of the season and the seasons of joy. It was a good year for one shepherd. 

It was a tough year for another shepherd. There was a lot more loss than you want to see in one year. There was a lot more loss than you want to see in one lifetime. He lost some sheep to the wolves and some family members to sickness. It was a tough year, a tough year that wouldn’t seem to end. It was so tough that he couldn't think about today and tomorrow because the yesterdays were keeping his mind busy. It was a tough year for one shepherd.

And there were other shepherds too. One was worried about how many sheep he had. Another shepherd was beaming with pride because his son had a job working for the government in Bethlehem. He said something about them needing extra help for a census. Another shepherd was thinking about the future of his daughters. One shepherd was worried about his parents. And one shepherd was thinking about his grandchildren. There was joy and sorrow. There was concern and congratulations. There was anxiety and prosperity. All of these things were in the minds of the shepherds when the angel of the Lord showed up.

And what did they hear as they kept watch over their flocks by night?

I proclaim to you good news of great joy. A Saviour has been born for you, o joyful shepherd! The year that has been good is now even better for a child is born and a son is given.

I proclaim to you good news of great joy. A Savior has been born for you o sorrowing shepherd! The child born for you will be called Wonder Counselor, Father Forever, Prince of Peace. He will claim power over sickness and power over death and power over the grave. 

I proclaim to you good news great joy. A Savior has been born for you, o shepherd keeping watch over your flock by day and by night. This child born for you will carry dominion on his shoulders and carry us in our burdens.

Whichever shepherd each of you stands with on this most holy night, I proclaim to you good news of great joy. A Saviour has been born for you!

O come, let us adore him. The Nativity of the Lord ~ "Which Shepherd?" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min.

I have always loved the shepherds in the Christmas story. And it might have a little to do with having played the part of the shepherd every year in the Christmas play in the little Church where I grew up. I was always a shepherd every year. I never got to be Joseph. I never got to be one of the Magi. My sister got to be an angel, and I was always a shepherd. Maybe God was trying to tell me something early on. I have always loved the shepherds in the Christmas story.

And playing a shepherd every year, I started to wonder what the shepherds were doing when the angel of the Lord showed up. Oh, I know that they were keeping the night watch over their flocks. I know that they were counting sheep to stay awake. But I really started to wonder what the shepherds were thinking before the angel of the Lord showed up.

It was a good year for one shepherd. There was a lot of growth in his flock. New sheep were born this year. There were many things to be thankful for this year. There were lots of things to celebrate this year. He was thinking about the joys of the season and the seasons of joy. It was a good year for one shepherd. 

It was a tough year for another shepherd. There was a lot more loss than you want to see in one year. There was a lot more loss than you want to see in one lifetime. He lost some sheep to the wolves and some family members to sickness. It was a tough year, a tough year that wouldn’t seem to end. It was so tough that he couldn't think about today and tomorrow because the yesterdays were keeping his mind busy. It was a tough year for one shepherd.

And there were other shepherds too. One was worried about how many sheep he had. Another shepherd was beaming with pride because his son had a job working for the government in Bethlehem. He said something about them needing extra help for a census. Another shepherd was thinking about the future of his daughters. One shepherd was worried about his parents. And one shepherd was thinking about his grandchildren. There was joy and sorrow. There was concern and congratulations. There was anxiety and prosperity. All of these things were in the minds of the shepherds when the angel of the Lord showed up.

And what did they hear as they kept watch over their flocks by night?

I proclaim to you good news of great joy. A Saviour has been born for you, o joyful shepherd! The year that has been good is now even better for a child is born and a son is given.

I proclaim to you good news of great joy. A Savior has been born for you o sorrowing shepherd! The child born for you will be called Wonder Counselor, Father Forever, Prince of Peace. He will claim power over sickness and power over death and power over the grave. 

I proclaim to you good news great joy. A Savior has been born for you, o shepherd keeping watch over your flock by day and by night. This child born for you will carry dominion on his shoulders and carry us in our burdens.

Whichever shepherd each of you stands with on this most holy night, I proclaim to you good news of great joy. A Saviour has been born for you!

O come, let us adore him. 

"Do Not Be Afraid" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min

Do not be afraid.

Those were the words of the Angel: Do not be afraid. People had been afraid of God for generations. They had been afraid of justice. They had been afraid of punishment. They had been afraid even, that the reality of the living God would call them to a life that was greater than they could imagine.

Do not be afraid, said the Angel. Do not be afraid.

Our God did not come to us in power. It was not a violent conquest. He appeared, and the soul felt its worth. He appeared, and he took possession of his creation. The Word of the Father, through whom all things were created, comes to us in utter humility. Not in strength do we meet him, but in weakness. Not in power do we see him, but held in the arms of his mother. There is no need to be afraid. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords is a baby. We cannot fear him. We can only fall in love with him.

It is the overwhelming and unimaginable love of God the Father and the loving response of the Virgin Mother that brings the Lord Jesus to us. He is the child that was promised and the Redeemer that will save us. He will reveal to us the eternal will of the Eternal God. He will teach us what it means to truly love. He will invite us to the Kingdom of his Father, to the table with his apostles, to the mountain for his teaching. And tonight he invites us to the manger where he is safely sleeping.

We meet this baby and we are conquered by love. We meet this baby and our fear fades away, at least for a little while. For in the captivating face of this baby, we gaze upon the face of the invisible God. In the captivating face of this baby, we gaze upon the face of him in whose image we were created. In this captivating face of this baby, we fall passionately in love with the God who is passionately in love with us. There is no need to be afraid. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords is a baby. We cannot fear him. We can only fall in love with him.

And this baby will make room in our hearts, just as he made room in the manger. There was no room in the inn for him to be born. Yet after the birth of the Lord Jesus, there was room for the shepherds. In the mystery of divine love, at an inn that was overcrowded, the whole world now comes to worship. The Lord Jesus brought the love of heaven to earth and made room on earth for the love of heaven. He made room in the manger. He makes room in our hearts. There is no need to be afraid.

O Come let us adore him. Amen.