December 23, 2020
Luke 2:12—Shepherds and Angels
“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12, NRSV
As a new parent, one of the most important things I tried to learn was swaddling. I knew this was a comforting technique that calms small babies, providing them safety and security. Margaret and I took a parenting class where I tried to master the art. I even tried at home prior to the arrival of our daughter, Quinn. When the time came for me to try my hand at my first swaddle at the hospital, I was a mess. As a new father seeing how little and vulnerable my child was, my nerves got the better of me. Thankfully, we had a seasoned nurse who gladly stepped in and provided guidance and assured me that no one gets it the first time.
The angels’ message to the shepherds about finding the baby wrapped in cloths at first sounds strange. Why would their King be wrapped so humbly and found in a manger? At the time, it was Jewish custom to wrap the sacrificial lamb in cloths. The shepherds would have instantly made this connection and seen it as a sign, as the angels said. The swaddling cloth that provided Jesus comfort and security signified to the shepherds that he was the Lamb of God, a sacrifice for even them, the lowly.
Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank you for sending your Son, who is both Lamb and Shepherd to us. Help us to follow his path. Amen.
Thomas Monroe