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!” Luke 2:13,14
Pablito enjoys choir practice. The soaring voices singing praises lift his
spirits. When the trumpets loudly play
his wings tremble. For weeks they have
been practicing announcing the birth of Jesus, God’s only son.
Today was a
special day. The choir director flitted
back and forth between the orchestra and the choir. “Everyone, everyone!” she said clapping her
hands.
“Today is the day. We will be going to earth to announce the
birth of Jesus. He will be born
soon. Now get in line. We leave in just a few minutes!”
Pablito was
nervous and excited. He did not want to
sing badly. He lined up with the other
choir members and the band. Pablito was not quite sure how they would get to
earth from heaven, but he could not wait to go.
“Places
everyone.” said the choir director.
“Trumpets
up!” chimed in the orchestra conductor.
Everything quieted down. All
Pablito could hear was the rustle of wings and the thumping of his heart.
Instantly,
with no warning, they were no longer in heaven!
The bright light of heaven was replaced by the dark night of earth. Pablito looked down on rugged hills with
fluffy sheep sleeping among the rocks and crags.
Then
suddenly, God’s own special glory lit up the night, and Gabriel, God’s great
messenger angel was talking to the shepherds who looked very pale and afraid in
God’s brilliant light. Something had
gone wrong! This was not a great palace or God’s grand temple. They were not even near a big city! The only lights came from a small village
nestled in a valley. These poor
shepherds and sheep could not be God’s chosen audience. This was very bad.
Suddenly
the music started. Startled, Pablito
joined the music ringing out across the dark hills. The amazed shepherds, reflecting the
brightness of heaven, gazed up at them in wonderment smiling huge smiles. Joyful anthems of praise echoed back from the
hills.
Almost
before it started, the performance was over and they were back in heaven. Everyone looked very happy as they clapped
each other on the back saying, “Job well done!
Couldn’t have been better. I’m
sure He will be pleased.”
Pablito stood silently, not exactly
sure what had happened. Why was everyone
so happy when they had obviously gone to the wrong place and sang to the wrong
people?
“Pablito,”
Ezekiel asked, “why do you look so confused?” as a smile crinkled his eyes.
“I thought
we were going to announce the birth of Jesus to important people.”
“You
did. And you did it wonderfully.”
“Perhaps we
sang well. But to the wrong people!”
Pablito replied.
“What do
you mean, ‘the wrong people’?” said Ezekiel wings gently waving.
“Well, we
sang to some poor shepherds and their sheep way out in the dark!”
“Pablito. Take my hand and come with me. But keep quiet.” Wondering, Pablito took his hand and once
again the bright lights of heaven faded away, and the dark hills of Judea swam
into view. “Why are we here?” he asked.
“Shush! Look over there Pablito. And please keep your voice down. What do you see?”
By pale
star light Pablito saw a small group of shepherds heading toward the
village. “I see shepherds hurrying
through the night.” he said.
“That’s
right. Let’s follow them.” Ezekiel
answered.
Pablito and
Ezekiel followed the shepherds as they made their way down the dark path, close
enough to hear voices but not make out the words.
The
shepherds came to a small inn at the edge of the
In the soft
light Pablito watched the shepherds kneeling around a tired young mother and
worried father tenderly caring for a sleeping baby in a manger. It was God’s own son, sleeping on a bed of
straw! He was wrapped in long strips of
cloth. As He lay there a bit of drool
ran down His cheek and His mother Mary, gently wiped it away.
“You see,
Pablito, these shepherds are humble seekers.
They take care of their sheep as the Lord takes care of His. Their hearts are soft, and they wanted to see
the Messiah. Men who live in big palaces
sometimes fill their hearts with things of this world. The men who tend these sheep filled their
hearts with things of the next. The
Master chose His audience carefully.
Come, we need to go back now.”
As Earth faded away, Pablito saw the shepherds slipping away. Their voices lifted in the song they had heard Pablito sing. As they made their way back to the hills and their sheep and Pablito returned to heaven, wonder filled all their hearts.
At that
time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you
have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them
to infants; Matthew 11:25
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