At this Christmas time there are so many voices clamouring to be heard. The television screams the advert messages to us. (actually the adverts are streamed at a slightly higher volume, to get our attention). Buy this, get that. Your Christmas will not be complete without it or them. Shops are clogging our ears with carols, containing words and messages so important, but all we hear is blare. People shout, cars honk and the Advent season seems to be a hurdy-gurdy of noise.
It was no different when Jesus was born. There was the same noisy hustle and bustle. But amid all this angels were proclaiming their message. Mary’s heart was quiet enough to hear her heavenly visitor. Just suppose she hadn’t listened; she would have found herself pregnant without a reason. Joseph heard his angel instructing him not to divorce Mary and told him that the baby was the result of heavenly intervention. The shepherds on the hillside needed to hear the angels’ words, ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to all men,’ Luke 2:14. If the shepherds hadn’t heard and obeyed, the nativity scene would have been rather empty.
Angels still speak today if only we will slow down to listen. The wonderful story hasn’t changed, God still came down to earth to bring salvation to all mankind. This year I’ve resolved to not just sing the carols but to really savour each word. ‘Man can live for evermore because of Christmas Day,’ ‘Hush your noise men of strife and hear the angels sing,’ ‘Joy to the world, the Saviour reigns.’