Horn of Oil
I Bring You Good News
-Vigil-
First, thin smoke rising into the cold night air; charred wood and quiet embers glowing low against the dark hills.Then the scent of open pasture: dry grass beneath rough blankets, wool and earth softened by the warmth of the fire.A deeper smoke follows, resinous and sweet, curling upward like incense as the shepherds keep watch through the long night. Dark hills, a small fire, quiet breath in the stillness until the heavens open with light and the silence fills with glory.
ANoint
Roll VIGIL onto the pulse point of each wrist.
Inhale
Draw the fragrance in. Experience the scents of this moment.
Step into the story...
Soundscape
Listen as you read.
Scripture
Luke 2:8-20
There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.”When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”They came with haste and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.
Scripture from the World English Bible (WEB), public domain.
Reflection
Return to the fragrance.Inhale the scent of VIGIL.Sit beside the fire. The hills are dark. The sheep are quiet.Smoke rises into the cold night.Suddenly, the glory of the Lord surrounds you. The first words from heaven are:Don’t be afraid.There is good news: a Savior has been born.The shepherds could have remained beside the fire. They could have waited for morning. Instead, they go; and once they have seen Him, they cannot keep the news to themselves.The watchers become messengers.Perhaps you have heard this story so many times that it no longer feels like the good news it is.Perhaps your faith has become something familiar and private.But this is good news of great joy for all people.Who beyond the warmth of your fire needs to hear what you know?The night is still dark, but you have seen the light. Leave the fire. Carry it forth.
Stay here a moment.Let the fragrance of vigil
settle gently around you.And when you rise,
it goes with you.
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