And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” – Luke 2:10

As a classroom teacher, I expect the routine and ordinary morning announcements. However, when that same click is heard at another time of day, there is an anxious pause because it is unexpected. Most of the time it is for something ordinary, but students and teachers always have an underlying awareness that it may not be, so we pause and listen until we register the ordinary and relax.

Perhaps you have heard that recognizable weather warning tone that causes you to stop and turn up the volume on the radio or tv to become informed of incoming weather. Yes, we want to know, to be aware, of what is coming. We want to have courage in the face of weakness. We depend on announcements to prepare us for what is to come. Announcements secure our attention.

The shepherds in today’s reading were doing the ordinary. They had no prior awareness or expectation to prepare them for the announce-ment. Suddenly, an angel appeared. This unexpected angel announcement interrupted their ordinary with, “Do not be afraid, I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

The shepherds had courage to believe the extraordinary “great joy for all the people”, for in the following verses “they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in the manger” and then “they spread the word.” Perhaps today’s text felt ordinary or expected at Christmas. Today, a month into our Lenten journey, is this announcement unexpected? Does it get your attention?

Verse 4 of the Christmas song “How Great Our Joy!” says:
“This gift of God we’ll cherish well, That ever joy our hearts shall fill. How great our joy! Great our joy! Joy, joy, joy! Joy, Joy Joy! Praise we the Lord in heav’n on high! Praise we the Lord in heav’n on high.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Grant us courage in the face of our weakness so that we, like the shepherds, may be empowered to comprehend this announcement of joy intended for all people.

Daily Reading: Matthew 13

– Contributed by Connie Petrich