<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.18854">
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT size=4>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3><FONT size=4>Part 3 of
3</FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3><FONT
size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3><FONT size=4>-----Original
Message-----<BR>From: </FONT><A href="mailto:bstoffregen@roadrunner.com"><FONT
size=4 face="Times New Roman">bstoffregen@roadrunner.com</FONT></A><BR><FONT
size=4 face="Times New Roman">To: </FONT><A
href="mailto:brian.stoffregen@gmail.com"><FONT size=4
face="Times New Roman">brian.stoffregen@gmail.com</FONT></A><BR><FONT size=4
face="Times New Roman">Sent: Wed, Dec 16, 2009 11:46
pm<BR></DIV></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>HEAVENLY ARMY</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The word usually translated "host" literally means "army"
(see footnote in NRSV). They praise (α</FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">ἰ</SPAN><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Menlo-Regular; mso-bidi-font-family: Menlo-Regular">νέω -
</SPAN><I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT">aineō</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT">) God. The shepherds
will also do this in verse 20. The multitudes will do this when Jesus enters
Jerusalem (19:37), where they somewhat echo some of the "army's" song: "Peace in
heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!"</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>A major issue in the army's song is the last
word in Greek. </FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">First: how to translated ε</FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">ὐ</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">δοκία (<I>eudokia</I>). Some possibilities are: <I>good
will, pleasure, favor; desire, purpose, choice. </I></FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>Second: who is expressing the good will,
pleasure, etc.? Are the people expressing good will, pleasure, favor? towards
God? towards each other? towards the Child? Is it God who is expressing good
will, pleasure, favor towards the people?</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Third: there are the variant readings:
ε</FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">ὐ</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">δοκία (<I>eudokia</I>) = nominative case vs.
ε</FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">ὐ</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">δοκίας (<I>eudokias</I>) = genitive case.
</FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>With the nominative case, we can have a
three-line parallel song. (I'm adjusting the order in Greek to highlight the
parallels):</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 58.5pt"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>glory<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>to God in the highest</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 58.5pt"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>peace<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>on earth</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 58.5pt"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>good will<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>among
people</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>However, the oldest and best manuscripts
have the genitive. This leads to a two-line parallel song that offers something
to someone at some place. (Again adjusting the
order):</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 45.0pt 1.75in"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>Glory<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>in the
highest<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>to
God</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 45.0pt 1.75in"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>peace<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>on earth<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>among people of [divine] favor</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>THE SHEPHERD'S
RESPONSE</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>"They kept saying to one another." The
imperfect implies repeated or continuous action in the
past.</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>Literally, what they kept saying to one
another: "Let us depart now to Bethlehem and let us see this word which has
happened, which the Lord made known to us."</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">I think that </FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">ῥῆ</SPAN><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Menlo-Regular; mso-bidi-font-family: Menlo-Regular">μα
(</SPAN><I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT">rhēma</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT">) = "word" is
significant. In Hebrew, דבר - <I>dabar</I>, means both word and deed. When God
speaks, things happen. Or, we might say, this is a deed where God speaks to the
world. </SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">ῥῆ</SPAN><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Menlo-Regular; mso-bidi-font-family: Menlo-Regular">μα
(</SPAN><I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT">rhēma</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT">) is a word that
occurs often in the opening chapters of Luke in regards to Mary and the birth,
although often hidden in translations.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">1:37 For no <B>word</B> will be impossible with
God.</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">1:38 The Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord;
let it be with me according to your <B>word</B>."</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">2:15 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
<B>word</B> that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to
us."</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">2:17-18 When they saw this, they made known <B>the
word</B> which had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were
amazed at what the shepherds told them.</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">2:19 But Mary treasured all these <B>words</B> and
pondered them in her heart.</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">2:51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these <B>words</B> in her
heart.</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The response of the shepherds is to go and see and tell;
and then to return glorifying and praising God. Shouldn't that be the life of
all believers? We are to go to where Christ is present -- to the Word and
Sacrament -- to church. There we are to see and hear and share. From there we
return to our homes and places of work glorifying and praising God.
</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">THE RESPONSE OF MARY</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Not only are the shepherds models of obedience and
transformed people by the birth of Christ, but so is Mary in v. 19. She
treasures or holds dear or stores in her mind (συντηρέω - <I>syntēreō</I>) these
words of the angel as shared by the shepherds. She ponders (συμβάλλω -
<I>symballō</I>) them in her heart. These verbs imply that both her mind and her
heart are connected with all that has happened and all that she has
heard.</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">These words don't indicate that she necessarily
understands everything that has happened. In fact, a literal meaning of συμβάλλω
(<I>symballō</I>) is "to throw together". I would paraphrase it to indicate that
she is trying to put all these things together -- to make sense of it all.
</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">CONCLUSION: THE ESSENCE OF THE GOOD
NEWS</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">It may be that God uses the most unworthy shepherds to
prove his point. There are no good reasons why God should have invited shepherds
to the birth of Jesus. They are the last group of Jews you would want around at
the birth; but precisely because they were not expected, precisely because they
shouldn't be there, precisely because of their bad reputations; God makes his
point.</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The shepherds come to Jesus because God extended them an
invitation they couldn't refuse. The shepherds come, not because they were
worthy, but because God invited them.</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">That is the way the Gospel works. We are not worthy to
come to Jesus. We might not be as bad as the shepherds. We have much better
reputations than shepherds did. We certainly smell better than the shepherds
did; but still, it is only by God's invitation that we have come to Jesus. It is
only through the power of God that we are able to believe in Jesus as our Savior
and Lord. We deserve nothing that God has given us; but God has been good to us
– amazingly good to us. God not only invited shepherds to see and believe in
Jesus; God has also invited each of us to see and believe in Jesus as the savior
of the world and our own savior. Then sends us back home changed
people.</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Brian Stoffregen</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">pastor, Faith Lutheran Church, 2215 S 8th Avenue, Yuma,
AZ 85364</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">e-mail: <A
href="mailto:brian.stoffregen@gmail.com">brian.stoffregen@gmail.com</A></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV><!-- end of AOLMsgPart_3_e737f52b-762e-4f4c-9286-62a1808928d4 --></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>