Luke 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another… I pretend not, brethren, to sum up in these few words what such aims and endeavours should be; but to set forth the spirit of them is enough. 1. You cannot, for example, go to seek Him "in the flesh," who was sought of old time in the stable at Bethlehem; but there are other humble roofs, and uninviting abodes, where you may seek, and haply find, "the Lord of life!" For Christ yet abides with His own; and very especially among the poorest and most helpless of His flock. Go to them, and you go to Him. Keep up a kindly, habitual compassion for their trials. 2. So again, you have no heaven-sent marvels of which to tell; you cannot report to others of the descent of the Angel of the Lord; nor of the gathering of an host of "ministering spirits" from above, chanting their adoration "to God and the Lamb!" But you can tell, perhaps, of the peace you may yourselves have read beneath the burning stars of some Christmas night. You can tell, perhaps, of some rough way that you yourselves have trod, and found, by God's grace, consolation and "hope in its end." 3. And need I point to one deeper and dearer realization of our subject yet? It stands in the fact that this sacred season has many opportunities for Holy Communion; for that best and most privileged way in which we can "keep the Feast." He will be veiled in His Sacrament, as aforetime in His flesh; but the same Immanuel, "God with you!" And, surely, you will return to your own paths and your own ways, like your prototypes of Bethlehem, praising and glorifying God for all the benefits that He hath done unto you; having received the Cup of Salvation, and having been answered in the name of the Lord! (J. Puckle, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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