December 26 — Luke 2:15–20

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 treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.
— Luke 2:15–20


The shepherds’ response to the angelic announcement is immediate and wholehearted. “Let us go… and see this thing that has happened.” Their faith is simple, eager, and active. They do not delay, question, or debate—they hurry toward the presence of Christ. Advent has brought us to Christmas, and now Christmas invites us to respond. The shepherds remind us that the proper response to God’s revelation is movement: movement toward Jesus, toward worship, toward sharing what God has done. Their joy compels them. The good news they receive becomes the good news they proclaim.

Upon seeing the Child, the shepherds become the first evangelists of the Christ. Ordinary laborers become messengers of heaven’s joy. Their story teaches us that encountering Jesus changes us—it awakens praise, courage, and a desire to speak of God’s work. Their words amaze those who hear them, not because the shepherds are eloquent, but because God’s glory has touched their lives. Christmas invites us to share our stories of God’s goodness, not with pressure or performance, but with the authenticity of people who have seen the grace of God for themselves.

Amid the excitement, Mary offers a different kind of response. She treasures these events and ponders them deeply. Her meditation shows us that faith involves not only proclamation but contemplation. The shepherds speak; Mary ponders. Both responses honor God. Christmas calls us to hold space for both: joyful witness and quiet reflection. We are invited to praise God loudly and to sit with Him silently, letting the wonder of His presence settle into the depths of our hearts.

As you reflect on this passage, consider these questions: How has your experience of Christ stirred you to “go and see” with eagerness or expectation? What message of God’s goodness have you witnessed that you might share with someone else? Where do you relate more today— with the shepherds who proclaim or with Mary who ponders? And how might God be inviting you into both proclamation and contemplation in this season?

For today’s practice, spend a few minutes in stillness, imagining yourself at the manger—seeing the Child, sensing the quiet wonder of Mary and Joseph, and hearing the joyful breath of the shepherds. Whisper the prayer, “Lord, let me treasure Your presence.” If you feel prompted, share one simple word of encouragement or hope with someone today—letting your life, like the shepherds’, bear witness to the joy of Christ.


Heavenly Father, 

Thank You for the example of the shepherds who sought Jesus with eagerness and shared the good news with joy. Teach me also to ponder Your work like Mary, treasuring Your presence in my heart. Help me glorify and praise You for all I have seen of Your grace. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

-

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