Reading
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And we know that the story continues as the shepherds go to visit the Christ child.
Reflection
"The Lord is close: come, let us adore him". With this invocation, the liturgy invites us in these days of Advent to approach as it were on tip-toe the Bethlehem scene where the extraordinary event that changed the course of history took place: the birth of the Saviour. On Christmas Night we will pause, once again, before the crib and contemplate with wonder the "Word made flesh". Sentiments of joy and gratitude will be renewed in our hearts, as they are every year, while we listen to the Christmas carols that sing of the extraordinary event in so many languages. It was out of love that the Creator of the universe came to dwell among us. In his Letter to the Philippians, St Paul says that Christ, "though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" (2:6). He appeared in human form, adds the Apostle, humbling himself. At Christmas we will relive the fulfilment of this sublime mystery of grace and mercy.
Prayer
We tiptoe, we move ever closer to the stable, look inside and what do we see, but the Christ child and we give thanks for the Saviour of the world.
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