01 Jan 26 | Luke 2:16–21
The shepherds rush to see Jesus and share what God revealed to them, spreading joy and praise as ordinary people become the first witnesses of Christ.
Today’s Takeaway: Faith is not just being amazed by God—it’s hearing His word, responding with obedience, and trusting Him enough to act.
The Gospel:
So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Reflection
In the book of Luke, we generally see an emphasis on the poor (Luke 4:18) and Beatitudes in Luke’s own form (“Blessed are you who are poor”). When we dive into who went - the shepherds - we have to understand that in first century Judea, these were not a romanticized group of people. They lived outside, often far from ritual purity norms, they were generally considered unreliable witnesses in legal settings, and were a bottom rung in the societal ladder. God chooses them as the first evangelists and the first to publicly proclaim who Jesus is!
God reveals Himself first to the lowly, not the powerful. There is an Old Testament connection here too with shepherds. David was a shepherd from Bethlehem. This has tied in full circle to that part of the scriptures. The response also sets a theme that is carried forth in Luke and Acts. God speaks, we are obedient, then we proclaim. The shepherds did not discuss, debate, or write it into their schedule. The shepherds heard the news and went in haste. This is later taught by Jesus in Luke 8:21, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
What stands out next is that the shepherds told others what they had heard, but that those that heard were not said to be believers. Luke is careful with the wording. They were “amazed” - but Luke doesn’t say, “those that heard were overjoyed” or “those that heard believed and followed” - nothing like that. They were in amazement, but did not have faith. Being in amazement of God is not discipleship. This is a clear distinction that we have to keep in mind. I heard once that believing in Jesus and following Jesus are two different things; even the devil believes in Jesus.
Mary is said to “keep” these things. Luke uses “suntēreō”, an active term meaning to guard, preserve carefully, or hold onto something that is valuable or entrusted. This is the same word that is used for “keeping the commandments” - pretty neat, right. Then when it says that Mary reflected, Luke uses “symballō” meaning “to compare and connect” or “to bring separate things into conversation.” Mary is taking this all in, realizing the significance of what is happening, and then reflecting on it in spiritual reflection.
Finally, Jesus was raised in accordance with the laws of Moses. We see that Joseph and Mary were devout in their following of God’s law. They, like the shepherds, heard the law and followed what they were told.
Overall, this Gospel shows us that there amazement is for crowds, but obedience is for disciples. We are invited to move when God speaks to us, even if it interrupts our routines or doesn’t fit into what we thought we would be doing. Like Mary, we are called to guard close to our hearts what God reveals, but to reflect on it as well. We learn through this that faithfulness is something that can be lived out in obedience, trust, and consistency just as Mary and Joseph demonstrate. God works through ordinary people who listen, act, and remain faithful - regardless of their societal status or reputation.
Reflection Question:
Do we move towards God in haste when he speaks to us, gives us a sign, or we are nudged?