"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 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. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2: 8-14
I've always loved this passage, imagining the confusion and terror of the shepherds as their peace is broken by the hosts of heaven. This scene, however, is repeated on an almost nightly basis. All you have to do is go out on a clear night and gaze at the heavens. Stars, which are so often seen as synonymous with angels, look down as they dance through the heavens. The Angels coming at the birth of Christ was enough to shake people from their sleep and draw their eyes upward, while the quiet twinkling of stars every night is a reminder of this mystery and evidence that all of creation sings God's praise.
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