You heard something . . .?

So the shepherds are sitting around the fire staring at the shimmering embers, letting the warmth radiate deeply. Suddenly an indescribable musical sound fills the pasture. Much louder than the normal night sounds, even normal day sounds. Unbelievably loud but not painful. So beautiful it is almost unbearable. It is coming from a light, a light that only a moment ago seemed to be a distant star, but now is just above, a light filled with the outlines of what can only be described as angels. The shepherds freeze. Not too many angels come out this way. An angel says,


"Do not be afraid . . ."

A few months before an angel appeared to a young woman named Mary and said, "Greetings to you who are highly favored. The Lord is with you." This bothered Mary. The angel said,

"Do not be afraid . . ."

About six months before that a priest named Zechariah was in the temple of the Lord, where he had been chosen by lot to go into and burn incense. He was alone. He thought. Then an angel of the Lord appeared at the altar of incense. Zechariah was understandably startled. The angel said,

"Do not be afraid . . ."

Had the angels heard something? Was something coming that the shepherds, Mary and Zechariah might fear? Was it just the angels' response to mortals startled by their heavenly appearance? Or was that part of the message they were assigned to bring?

"Do not be afraid . . ."

For unto you, Zechariah, will come the son you prayed for . . .

For unto you, Mary, will be born the Holy One, the Son of God . . .

For you, shepherds, and for the whole world, a child is born who will change everything so that you may live . . .

"Do not be afraid . . ."

So what is there to fear in the news of the birth of a couple of baby boys?

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