Luke 2:15 — And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
No, I know you’re not going to miss Christmas. I mean don’t miss the opportunity of Christmas.
Those shepherds now … They knew an opportunity when they saw one, but there’s a couple of Christmas traditions that suggest not everyone was so smart.
I love our Christmas traditions (yes, I really do believe in Father Christmas.) But did you know that lot’s of other countries have really different traditions. In Italy, for instance, there’s La Befana who brings good children gifts on the evening before January 6th (The Feast of the Epiphany). Actually, she’s looking for Jesus. The story is that the Magi were searching for the Christ child and they stopped at her house to get information. She had no idea who the three colorfully dressed men were at her doorstep, who they were looking for and which way they should go. Before the three men left they kindly asked the old woman to go with them to search. She decided she had too much housework to do … but when they had left she felt she’s made a mistake and decided to go and catch up with those kindly wise men — but she had no luck. Thinking of the chance she had missed, the old woman stopped every child to give them a little gift in case one was the special baby. Each year on the eve of the Epiphany she sets out looking for the baby Jesus. She stops at each child’s house to leave those who’ve been good a gift in their stockings and of course those who’ve been bad get a lump of coal!
You can be a shepherd, and go looking for the Christ child. Or you can be the one who misses the opportunity to join the search. But there’s another angle. Suppose the angel had missed the opportunity? The shepherds would have spent that wonderful night in the fields with the sheep. And some folks did miss the chance to greet the king. I might be being unfair … but I can’t see where Joseph and Mary’s families jumped in to help the young parents-to-be. Then there was that innkeeper. Really, no room for a young lady right on the point of giving birth? How about you — if someone comes and asks you where to find the Christ child, what will you say? Grab the opportunity — show them the way, preferably by taking them by the hand right to the manger!