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The GB News 12 Days of Christmas, Day 5
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Hi there, my name is the Reverend Pat Allerton and I'm a vicar in the Church of England
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You know, so many people have said to me over the years something along the lines of
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Pat, if you knew the things I'd done, you'd realise that God would never be interested in me
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They count themselves out, they see themselves as outsiders, unable to come in
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which is what makes the story of the shepherds in the Christmas message that more extraordinary
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Because in it, we read about people who, in their own day, were the outsiders of the time
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They were the misfits, the outcasts, the religiously unclean. And yet, the moment Jesus is born, they are the first ones to hear about it
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And they are invited to come and see what's happened. an angel appears to them on the hillside saying
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do not be afraid I bring you good news that will be of great joy to all the people because today in the city of David a saviour has been born He is Christ the Lord
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And then loads more angels appear in the sky proclaiming glory to God in the highest
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and peace on earth to those on whom his favour rests. outsiders are made insiders through the lavish grace and generosity of God and the shepherds
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end up being the first people to meet this newborn king so I guess one takeaway for us can be
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don't write yourself off and perhaps don't write others off either because God is the God of second
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chances. More than that, he's the God of the 102nd chance as well. So here, that good news again
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a saviour has been born. He is Christ the Lord
