“Huh??” That’s the likely reaction of the original hearers of this story. Luke’s story is totally counter-cultural to what folks were expecting. If a new king was to be born, surely it would take place at the palace in Jerusalem. If angels were appearing, surely it would be to the chief priests. But instead the message comes to low-class shepherds, who should go to a barn and look in a feed trough for the new king.

Luke keeps telling stories like this. God uses unexpected places and people. I believe Luke is right, even today. Where is Jesus most likely to show up today? Not at City Hall, the corporate office, or (dare I say it?) even at our churches. Try the city bus stop, the soup kitchen, the homeless shelter. Who hears the angel’s message? Not the executive, the politician, or sometimes even the preacher. It’s the crew collecting garbage, the check-out clerk, the guy sleeping under the bridge. So what’s our job? Go and look for Jesus there, of course!

By Bill Buchanan from D365