The Christmas Concert

Luke 2:8-16

The Shepherds and the Angels

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.

The conductor raises his hands

and, for a moment,

all is silent

until

lowering them, 

the orchestra bursts into sound.

But, in that moment,

just there

is the pregnancy

of potential.

The score is

but black and white markings on a page

until the conductors baton

signals

the first cries of life

and the cacophony gushes forth.

Not as a chaotic

rushing mass

but as a carefully controlled

symphony of beauty

in which each

has a unique

and vital 

part to play.

As the baton falls

there, in that moment,

weeks and months of rehearsal

come to fruition

unfolding

bit by bit.

And, suddenly,

it all makes sense

as parts 

oft rehearsed separately

fit together

in a joyous harmony.

Angels

And shepherds

Magi

And Rulers

Mary

Joseph

Anna

Simeon

Elizabeth

Zechariah

All did their thing

All contributed uniquely

to the birthing

of a whole new melody

filled with grace notes

of love

and love notes

of Grace

as God

was birthed 

in a song

composed for us.