8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
Behold how very richly God honors those who are despised of men, and that very gladly. Here you see that his eyes look into the depths of humility. Could God’s angels not have addressed the high priests, who it was supposed knew so much concerning God and the angels? No, God chose poor shepherds, who, though they were of low esteem in the sight of men, were in heaven regarded as worthy of such great grace and honor. —Martin Luther, “Sermon for Christmas Day [Luke 2:1–14]”
Martin Luther (1483–1546): German monk and theologian whose protests against church corruption sparked the Protestant Reformation; lectured in biblical studies at Wittenberg University and translated the Bible into German.
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