Luke 2:8-9
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.
Reflection
Isn’t it interesting that the shepherds were afraid when the angels appeared to them. Almost every time an appearance of an angel to human beings is recorded in the scripture it describes the experience as frightening. The glory of the angels of the Lord is hard for humans to bear.
The angels came to announce the coming of Jesus that would bring us the possibility of reconciliation with God the Father. They were scared of the angels but sometimes we are scared of the process of reconciliation in our lives. We are afraid because of what reconciliation brings into our lives. Reconciliation can bring us healing and wholeness but we have to give up some things as well. When we are reconciled with God we have to give up control and turn over the reins of our life to Jesus. When we are reconciled with other people we often have to give up anger, resentment and self-righteousness. Sometimes we walk away from reconciliation because we have a greater fear of losing the things in our life that we have grown to depend on.
Are you afraid of what you will have to give up for you to be completely reconciled to God?
Is there someone to whom you need to be reconciled with, but you are more comfortable with your anger and resentment toward that person?
