Text: Luke 2:1-20 (Isaiah 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14)
Years ago, a famous violinist was commissioned to go into the New York subway system in cognito and play his 3 million-dollar Stradivarius. He played the same music from the same instrument that a week earlier people paid $100 a ticket for in the cheap seats. In the subway terminal, however, nobody stopped to appreciate either him or the music that was being played. Caught in the business of their lives and lost in their own thoughts, they could not see beauty right in front of them. The Shepherds did not have a whole lot going on, except watching their sheep by night. They were captured by the presence of God and motivated to look for the fulfillment of God’s promise in the unlikeliest of places. What about us? Where have we not noticed the presence of God because we were too
busy or not expecting it in a certain place or time? The reading from Isaiah reminds us of God’s propensity to come in the unlikeliest of places and to the most unexpected people. The places that Isaiah speaks of light shining in the darkness, were places that were previously rejected by God earlier in the story. This light and this child are born for those who were considered unworthy and outcast. Yet, they are also the ones most likely to be motivated to go see this thing that has taken place. The reading from Titus speaks of training and preparedness to receive the Grace of God that has appeared. By turning away from the things that often occupy our time and thoughts, we become ready to recognize the presence of God in our present. The Gospel of Luke encourages us to open our eyes and hearts to the inbreaking of God’s presence and grace in our lives and world. Let us go and see this thing that has taken place. The Lord is near!