When Bill Gates or Bill Clinton have an important announcement, whom do they call? CNN, FOX, and MSNBC – of course. But when God announced the birth of our Messiah, he chose the lowest people in society – the equivalent of our landscapers and waste collectors – to receive and disseminate the news. Luke 2:8 describes the scene, “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 that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
Why would God take such a counterintuitive approach to news announcement? Clearly it was to draw attention to God’s concern for those who are poor, sick, abused, downtrodden – forgotten by the mainstream. Would you join me today in asking ourselves, what are we doing on their behalf? What serious, intentional commitment can we make in the coming months to lift up the poor? In what way will we join the chorus of the angels is saying, ‘I bring you good news…?’