Rembrandt van Rijn: The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds (1634)
Middlebury College
Solstice
"It's the big night!"
Is what my father used to say,
And then in June,
It was, "Tomorrow's the big day!"
- Thus, the solstice
Always arrives for me with mirth,
Which may be what
We need to hear about this birth
Announced each year.
The angel spoke with twinkling eyes,
To cast out fear,
Which turned to glee, and great surprise!
Despite the dark,
This same news called to us this night
Laughs its head off,
That Love might be our solstice light.
Scott L. Barton
(revised from 12/24-25/14)
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that
all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was
taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be
registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to
the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and
family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and
who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to
deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in
bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them
in the inn.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields,
keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before
them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But
the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news
of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a
Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will
find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly
there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and
saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the
shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing
that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with
haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they
saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who
heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all
these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying
and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
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