The Angels Appear to the Shepherds

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, there were shepherds out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Just then, 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! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today, in the city of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests!”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

So, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger. After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him. And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary gathered all these things in her heart and pondered them.

Then the shepherds returned to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as the angel had told them.

(See Luke 2:8-20)

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