The Shepherds and the Angels

The Shepherds and the Angels

There were shepherds camping in the countryside nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to them, with the glory of the Lord shining around them. As they were terrified, The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; I am here to give you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today a Savior has been born to you in David’s town; he is Christ the Lord.  Let this be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly the angel was surrounded by a great multitude of angels from heaven, praising God and saying,  “Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to all in whom he delights.” When the angels had left them and gone back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has made known to us.” 

 So they went hurriedly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby lying in the manger.  seeing this they related what they had been told about the child,  and all were astonished on hearing the shepherds. for Mary, she treasured all these words and continually pondered over them. The shepherds then returned giving glory and praise to God for all they had seen and heard, just as the angels had told them. On the eighth day when the baby had to be circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.