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 favor rests.”
Luke 2:13-14
In a story that changes the world forever, in a flashy scene with a lot of important characters, we might overlook a word that’s key to the entire biblical Christmas narrative: suddenly.
Christmas, to this day, is the story of surprises.
Surprise! You’re going to have a baby. Surprise! You have to report for a census. Surprise! Your fiancé is pregnant; and guess what—it’s a miracle. Surprise! Angels just showed up in your sky; wise men are asking if you know where to find the new little king. Surprise: your Messiah is here.
As Christmas approaches, now would be a good time to ask yourself: How do you feel about unexpected turns of events?
Many of us wouldn’t mind if the mailman delivered an unannounced gift; fewer of us would be thrilled by a last-minute change of plans. But the “suddenly”-s we read in the accounts of Jesus’ birth as related by Matthew and Luke have far greater consequences for the lives they touch, and for humanity as a whole.
And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this?”
And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be….?”
Luke 1:18, 34
Remember: the peaceful characters in our nativity sets lived through surprises that altered the courses of their entire lives—and at the outset, the changes might not have felt great. Joseph struggled with his decision to marry Mary. Zechariah failed to hold his tongue in a moment of surprise, and found himself speechless for months. In his Jerusalem palace, King Herod was unsettled by esteemed visitors inquiring where they could meet his successor.
How we handle God’s interruptions will dictate the course of our lives.
Acknowledging that we—that you—are a part of the continuing narrative of the Christmas story means acknowledging that God may surprise you. That surprise may be exciting—like going up to the attic and finding something you lost last year. Or it may feel more like climbing those stairs and discovering that squirrels got in. Today, pray that God will give you the wisdom to deal with the unexpected, and eyes to see his hand in the events of our holidays and our lives. When we trust that God’s intentions are good, we can receive the unexpected with peace.