The Unlikeliest Gift Ever – December 21, 2025, the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Old Testament, New Testament
December 21, 2025, the Fourth Sunday of Advent

So, it’s now the Fourth Sunday of Advent.  So far we’ve been thinking about the Angels in the Christmas story.  And their “visitations” to the people in this story have become our theme for the Advent season!  Haven’t they?

First we read about the angel Gabriel visiting Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist.  Then he paid a visit to Mary, the mother of Jesus.  And then last week, he appeared to Joseph, telling him what was going on with Mary.  And as I said then, Matthew didn’t tell us that angel’s name, but as I look at this whole story, my money’s on Gabriel.

Well, today we look at the next angel visitation.  This time the angel comes to these shepherds, out in the field, “keeping watch over their flocks by night.”  And here again, we’re not told the name of this angel, either!  But again I’m thinking Gabriel.  He seems to be the one delivering God’s most important messages!  And remember, the word “angel” literally means “messenger.”

Well, as we think about this story, it could be argued that this was the most unlikely visit of all.  This is one of the most surprising moments in the Christmas story.  After the angel appeared to Zechariah, to Mary, and then to Joseph, God chose an unexpected audience for this, the greatest news ever told!  The angel – and I think Gabriel – brought this most important message, not to kings, or to priests, or to the powerful, but to shepherds working the “night shift” out in the fields!

I had to smile a couple of weeks ago when Kari was talking about these shepherds.  In describing them, I believe she used the word “smelly” several times.  And I think she nailed it!  I like the picture she painted for us that day.  She gave us a good “mental image” of who these men were!  And maybe you had to tweak your own mental images of them!

These shepherds were not the agricultural businessmen of their time – not like in our time.  They didn’t hold a degree in “animal husbandry” – whatever that is!  They were probably not even the owners of those sheep.  They were those who were paid – and not very much – to keep the sheep safe at night.  And, as historians would tell us, they were among the lowliest people of their day.

As Kari emphasized – and I would agree – they were not the kind of visitors a king – newborn or otherwise – would receive.  And they were not the people we would expect to receive such an announcement.  It would have been expected  – by everybody at that time – that the announcement of this, the greatest of gifts, would come to princes or kings or priests, or even just to regular class of the common people.

Even the wise men – the Magi – expected that!  They came from the East seeking the “King of the Jews.”  And where did they go?  To Jerusalem.  That’s where they expected to find the king of the Jews!  Right?  But no!  This announcement we read again today, came, not to anyone prominent or powerful.  It came to these shepherds.

And we have to wonder, what was God thinking?  I wish we had some of the dialogue here between God and Gabriel!  Can you imagine that?  “Hey Gabriel! Jesus is born.”  “I want you to go tell… let’s see… go tell those shepherds down there.”  “Oh, and take all the angels in heaven with you!”

This is one of those times we can know for certain that we truly don’t know the mind of God.  This announcement was so unlikely!  And of course, it spoke of the “unlikeliness” of this gift.  But then, if you think about it, the “Unlikely” part of this is not just the gift.  This unlikely announcement reminds us that the biggest surprise of Christmas is not the gift itself, but to whom the gift is given.  And it speaks – no it shouts – the message of God’s incredible love.  For this gift came, not to the “deserving,” but to the “undeserving.”  And it makes me wonder why.  Why would God do all that he did – for us – for you – for me?

This unlikeliness of all of this is echoed later by Paul, in his letter to the Romans.  He said, “God showed his great love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

So we might make that statement a Christmas statement by saying this.  “God showed his great love for us in that while we were yet sinners, he sent his only son – as an innocent, vulnerable baby, to a peasant girl, who laid him in a feeding trough, in a cave, in a small town, in an obscure corner of the world.” That’s what he did.  And he did all of that, not when we deserved it, but when we didn’t deserve it!”

Think about that!  Christmas is a more amazing story every time I think of it!  And I hope it is for you.  This gift, the gift of Jesus to the world, was “the unlikeliest gift ever!”  And the announcement of it was given first, not to the powerful or the deserving, but to the unlikeliest of people.  It was given to shepherds – yes, to smelly shepherds!  That’s how God first told of the great, unlikely gift of his great love, given to you, and to me, and to the world.

Prayer

Eternal God, we stand in awe of your great and unlikely love for us.  We are amazed by the beauty of this season and the incredible gift to which it all points.  Help us to have this story planted firmly in our minds as we look to the great celebration we call Christmas.  And help us to sing with the angels “Glory to God in the highest!  And on earth peace, and goodwill among men.”  Amen.