An Angel of the Lord

Scripture             Luke 2:8-20       
Focus Verse        Luke 2:10
The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people …”

 

When we drop in on the shepherds, they are living their simple, humble lives “keeping watch” over their flock of sheep.  They probably didn’t get a lot of night visitors, so when the angel appeared the them, glowing in the night, of course they were terrified.  Once again, we hear those comforting words, “do not be afraid” and they enter a moment that would change the world forever. 

These humble shepherds are entrusted with a message for ALL of the people, a message that would make them famous!  The angel told them, “born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah.”  Then the angel sends them to Bethlehem to seek the newborn baby in a manger.

Reflection:  Where have you been seeking God recently?  How do you celebrate the good news?  How have you found the presence of God in unlikely places and in unlikely people?

If music is a spiritual pathway for you, listen to Andrea Bocelli and Mary J. Blige sing, "What Child is This?" as you envision shepherds and angels rejoicing at the good news of great joy for all people!

Prayer: Breathing “The Jesus Prayer”       
Breathing in … Lord Jesus Christ
Breathing out … Have mercy
*pray by breathing this prayer repetitively until the prayer prays you. You’ll know the prayer is praying you when the words come to you at random times in random places.  You will simply feel the words on your lips, in sync with your breathing.  And you have begun the process of praying unceasingly through the power of the Holy Spirit! For more information about praying The Jesus Prayer, an ancient prayer form from the days of early Christian History, practiced by the Desert Mothers and Fathers, take this LINK ...

An Angel Appears

Scripture             Matthew 1:18-25, 2:13-14
Focus Verse        Matthew 1:20
An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

Just when Joseph has made the best decision he can make with the knowledge he has … suddenly an angel appears with a message from God.  Joseph has already bumped up against the letter of the law by planning to dismiss Mary quietly.

Now the angel pushes Joseph even further, and he shatters the boundaries with his decision to believe that God is speaking and further, to listen to God’s plan.  Joseph is risking his standing in his family and the community, but he is also growing closer to the God who has called him to be the adoptive father of the Son of God.     

Reflection: Have you ever had a dream or a vision or perhaps just a thought that didn’t seem to be yours, a situation in which you felt God was speaking to you?  Have you ever bumped up against, or completely shattered, the letter of the “law” in order to offer compassion to a marginalized person because you felt that is what God was calling you to do?  How did that change your life?  the lives of others? 

Mercy Me sings a song, written by Russell Schulz-widmar and Fred Pratt Green, called, "Joseph's Lullaby" which envisions the love that began forming in Joseph's heart on the very night he accepted the call to be the father of Jesus, the Son of God, to hold him as a baby, and to let this love change him ... if music is a spiritual pathway for you, take the link and listen to the love that flows through this song.  

Prayer: Breathing “The Jesus Prayer”       
Breathing in … Lord Jesus Christ
Breathing out … Have mercy
*pray by breathing this prayer repetitively until the prayer prays you. You’ll know the prayer is praying you when the words come to you at random times in random places.  You will simply feel the words on your lips, in sync with your breathing.  And you have begun the process of praying unceasingly through the power of the Holy Spirit! For more information about praying The Jesus Prayer, an ancient prayer form from the days of early Christian History, practiced by the Desert Mothers and Fathers, take this LINK ...