And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Did you notice it?

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

Nothing special, really. Just some shepherds, watching their sheep.

All in a day’s work. Or a night’s work, to be more correct.

The angels appearing to them, well, that’s definitely special. Completely out of the ordinary; out of this world to be exact.

But the shepherds weren’t doing anything unusual. Just doing their job.

Sometimes we make our Christmas something out of the ordinary, which is understandable, because it’s a time when God came down to earth, born as a baby. That’s not usual. That’s out of this world.

But maybe there’s a danger that we are over-spiritualising Christmas by doing that.

The first Christmas in many ways is extraordinary. However, in other ways it is fairly mundane.

This Christmas we don’t have to go creating some sort of feasting and/or spiritual bonanza for God to show up.

Just ask the shepherds and a host of angels.

Yours out in the fields nearby,

Alison