Christmas Eve: Living your inner shepherd.

There are different Readings for different Masses at Christmas.   The Reading at Midnight is about the Angels appearing to the shepherds.  I like to see Christmas Eve is a time to focus on the revelation of Christ's coming to the shepherds, and then on Christmas Day we focus on the WORD MADE FLESH, the Incarnation for all humanity.  The first is more personal and sentimental, the second powerful and transforming.

1.  The shepherds were poor, honest, hard working people.  There is no reason why they should have special revelation.   They show that God did not come just for 'special' peopl, but came into the world world for YOU, and for ME.   The shepherds were at work.   Think of the ways God comes to you in your everyday life.   I hope that you live your faith in away that you would be aware of God, even if he spoke to you at work.  Supernatural grace can break into any area of our life.

2.  The Shepherds were "keeping watch at night".   They were watching, waiting, knowing the silence in th world.  In our modern world the idea of 'keeping watch' or sitting is silence with the expectation that God is there for us is missing.  We often fill every second with sound, noise, communication.   We communicate Constantly, but in our addiction of connectivity, we loose the humanity that real communication brings.  We long for LOVE, but in the end we have tweets.  We should be aware of our inner shepherd and sit down in silence and keep watch.

3.  It says:  “The glory of the Lord shone round about them.”   And the angels sing:  Glory to God in the highest!!!!   God's Glory was seen the cloud over the temple.  We see the light of Glory over the ark of the covenent, and at Mount Sinai when God appeared to Moses.   When you see the Smoke from Incense of Church you should be Reminded of this GLORY of God being present.

4.  Confronted with the Glory of God we see the shepherds were afraid.  We are all afraid of the unknown:  Supernatural reality, Death, Birth, and selfgiving love.   The angels tell us to fear NOT.  We should not be afraid, but rather filled with AWE!!   God is becoming FLESH, there is no more AWE inspiring event in the universe.  In our lives we should know that Awe before God.

5.  Shepherds are practical.  They are Not about the theory, but the practicing.  How do they respond:  They get up and go to Bethlehem.  That is simple:  They God to worship God made flesh.  In your life, our faith is about action:  Just do it.  Set a time to pray every day, and Pray.  Every week go to Mass.  If you sin, go to confession.  Simple:  Just do it-- Love God, and act on that love.  It is simple.

6.  Unlike the kings, they bring NO gifts other than themselves.  I invite you to be like the shepherds on this Christmas EVE:    Go to Mass, Worship God, and give yourself as gift.   Let your inner shepherd show.