The faith of the shepherds

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While they were there, the time came for her to have her child,

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and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

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Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.

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The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.

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The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

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For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.

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And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."

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And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

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"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

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When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."

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So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.

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When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.

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All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds."

 

At the message of the angels, the shepherds went to Bethlehem; they saw and they believed. They did not believe because they saw a god-like child lying in the manger. They saw the sign given them by the angel and they believed that the message of the angel was true. The child may look ordinary but the angel said that he is the "Messiah and Lord."

We too are invited to the Eucharist by the Lord. "Come and have breakfast with me. Come and taste and see that I am good. Come and eat bread to the full without money. Come and eat bread of the finest wheat." We go to Mass; we see the sign and we believe. We believe that Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist not because of any extraordinary manifestation but because of the message that we heard from the Lord is true.

Just like the shepherds, we encounter Christ only through faith in the Eucharist.