And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel for 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 of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you: he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger’. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying; ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.’ (Luke 2: 8-14)
QUIETING AND OPENING OURSELVES
Angel visitations to shepherds, Mary and Zechariah, dreams for Joseph and the wise men, prophetic songs from Elizabeth, Mary and Zechariah. It is all a veritable cornucopia of spiritual gifts! I come from many Christian traditions – a gentle liberal tradition with the social gospel, later evangelical and charismatic expressions, then an introduction to the contemplative. All these sit equally with me now, to be drawn on, to move around in. These can make openings for me.
My charismatic faith would tell me to practice the spiritual gifts of prophesy, tongues and healings. But I feel these gifts are not so much practiced as received. That is perhaps the contemplative learning. Maybe practicing becomes more a sitting with openness. The people in these stories were going about their normal lives and were interrupted with the miraculous, the wonderous. But it was a moment, the angel appeared then went. And they need to walk step by step through the story in very ordinary ways – walking to Bethlehem, running to Egypt, experiencing child birth (without pain killers!).
A friend recently reminded me of a story – years ago she had finished several days of late shifts as a nurse, tired and ready for bed she returned home to find her mother in great pain and distress with arthritis, she took a moment to pray for her Mum. They experienced a wonderful moment – the pain and swelling disappeared. It set a story in place that touched their whole family. My friend does not always have great health, not all moments are like that one, but that remains a precious moment, where openness to the moment brought a gift.
We cannot, I believe, demand miracles or easy answers but we can know there is something beyond us. We can open ourselves up to the other. I believe if we quiet ourselves God offers us something. I love the words of the carol, It came upon a midnight clear; ‘O hush your noise you men of strife and hear the angels sing’.
If we hush our noise just now, what do we hear? What might we receive or perceive? Maybe it isn’t angels or voices but peace, warmth, a prayer that forms itself?
Kirsty Hook