20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Luke 2:20
Perhaps you were somewhere you could see it, but I missed the Great Conjunction—the combining of Jupiter and Saturn that resulted in a bright, bold “star” in the sky. My sky, where I stood in the city, was murky, overcast and orange-tinged from the reflection of the lights below.
But many of my friends did see it, and I saw posts on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and more. It was a sight to see. From their sharing of pictures, I saw what they did. I am sorry I missed it—but just because I did not see it myself does NOT mean it did not occur. It did—I just was not in the right place and time to be a firsthand observer of the rare occurrence.
And that thought led me to those shepherds. The firsthand observers of not only angels and the heavenly host, but the actual child in a manger. They didn’t take pictures, true, but when they left Bethlehem and returned to their fields, they glorified and praised God to all that would listen. They kept telling the story of what they had seen. And some believed them, and others did not. But they told the story anyways. They didn’t keep the experience to themselves.
We are today’s shepherds, Bay Shore. We are. We have a story to tell and there are a lot of people who need to hear it. Even with our restrictions this year, we can share it. Even from our favorite chair, we can use our phone, we can write a letter, we can email. We are firsthand observers to the work of the Lord today, and like the shepherds we need to spread this good news. We need to spread the light.
On Monday, even though I knew the sky was murky and overcast, I still went out to see the Great Conjunction. How many others have put up a tree, bought some gifts, and wondered—why do we do these things?
Tell them, my fellow shepherds, when it all began, and how the greatest gift of all was one we did not actually see ourselves, and yet—we believe.
Blessings and peace to you, my friends, and to your loved ones.
I am missing you today, but even if I cannot see you—I know you are there.
Pastor Sarah
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