“When We Have Heard and Seen All the Things 我們聽了和看過這一切成就之事以後…“（Luke 路加福音2:15-20）
… the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child … But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
… 那些牧人彼此說：“我們往伯利恆去，看看主所指示我們已經成就的事。”他們急忙去了，找到馬利亞、約瑟和那臥在馬槽裡的嬰孩。他們見過以後，就把天使對他們論這孩子的話傳開了。… 馬利亞把這一切放在心裡，反複思想。牧人因為聽見的和看見的，正像天使對他們所說的一樣，就回去了，把榮耀讚美歸與神。
The shepherds did not hesitate at all to check what God has told them about. A baby lying in a manger was a strange sight and the specific sign they were told to look for. They no longer heard or saw angels but they had the abiding encounter with Jesus. The combination of the angelic announcement and such specific sign inspired them to tell as many as they could of what they heard and experienced. The good news of the shepherds amazed all who heard it and recognized that something significant had happened. Reacting differently from either the shepherds or those who heard them, Mary calmly took it all in and meditated over it seeking to understand all its deep meaning. The shepherds had such happiness and praise to God because the word was fulfilled just as it was told.
那些牧人毫不猶豫地去查看神所指示他們的，一個嬰孩臥在馬槽裡是一個奇怪的景象，並是他們所告知要尋找特定的記號。他們不再聽見或看見天使，卻與耶穌有了永恆的相遇。天使的報信結合如此特定的記號，激發了牧人盡可能多地向其他人講述他們所聽見、所經歷的。牧人的好消息令所有聽見的人感到詫異，意識到發生了某件重要的事情。馬利亞與牧人及聽見牧人所傳信息的人反應都不一樣，平靜地把這一切的事存在心裡，反複思想，試圖理解這一切的深層含義。牧人充滿了喜樂和對神的讚美，因為那就如所說的話都完全應驗了。
Prayer: Gracious and Loving God, indeed how lovely it was that the shepherds who looked after the Temple lambs were the first to see the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Thank you that having no discrimination among persons, you revealed this grand mystery to the shepherds and the ‘wise’ men (Magi); the one poor, the other rich; the one unlearned, the other learned; the one Jews, the other Gentiles; the one near, the other far off. Thank you for reminding us that even though some might have encounters with angels, angels may go but Jesus remains. Praise you for working through all kinds of people and all kinds of events to accomplish your marvellous plan. Amen.
禱告: 有恩惠、仁愛的神啊，那些看管聖殿羊群的牧人，最先看到除去世人罪孽之神的羔羊，確實是何等美好的。感謝你在人中間沒有區別，把這個偉大的奧秘啟示給了牧羊人和「智」者（占星家）；一方是窮人，另一方是富人；一方胸無點墨，另一方學富五車；一方是猶太人，另一方是外邦人；一方來自附近，另一方來自遠方。感謝你提醒我們，縱然某些人或許有與天使的相遇，天使會離開，但耶穌卻留了下來。讚美你，透過各樣的人和事來實現你不可思議的計劃。阿們。
