Luke 2:9-11

The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified.

¹⁰ The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. ¹¹ Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord.

That shepherds greet God incarnate not only in a barn, but in the animal’s trough points us to the table – Luke does not show Jesus resting in a pile of quilts in the corner, but in the feeding place.  This baby, resting in a manger on the night of his birth, will be the bread of God…which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world, the very bread of life.  Each time we gather at the table, we remember this mystery: that God took on human flesh, lived  among us, suffered for us, died and was raised, that we might know true life, in this world and the next.