Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”

I can’t imagine what this would have been like for the shepherds. ‘A great company’ of angels appearing suddenly. That’s intense.

In terms of links to my experience, other than a flash mob, it reminds me of when I went swimming with wild dolphins in open waters, just off the coastline of Perth, Western Australia.

We were either in the boat, or in the water if it was our turn… and all of a sudden – splash, out of the water would come flying a group of dolphins. Or we’d look below as we swam and a large pod would suddenly appear, gliding around underneath.

Very cool.

But nothing compared to this.

This is a great company of angels. How many in a company? Is it similar to a Roman army with a legion of angels, approximately 5000? Imagine that.

The shepherds were surrounded by angels. Flanked, in fact.

And what battle strategy did the angels have? They sang.

They sang of the glory of God in the highest heaven. And of peace on those who he favours. Glory and Peace.

They sang to usher in the new age at the dawn of the Messiah’s birth.

For something new was happening. Something to which people needed to pay attention.

The heavenly angels knew all those centuries ago that a flash mob squad really was the way to go.

Shepherds, out in the fields. Just minding their own sheepy business. When –

Suddenly! A bunch of angels appear and sing in the night sky.

Sounds like it would have been terrifying.

Sounds like a reason to rejoice.

Sounds like something that requires a response.

No surprise that, despite their fear, the shepherds (that exemplary crew) respond in exactly the right way. For they had heard the words of the angel already ‘Do not be afraid…’

And so, they weren’t. Instead, they seemed rather excited.

Yours enjoying the mob squad,

Alison