Who Recognized Jesus First?

It wasn't the chief priests.

It wasn't the scholarly scribes.

It wasn't the leaders of the Jewish community.

It was Jesus' parents.... a simple couple from an impoverished part of Judea.  Simple... they believed they spoke to angels, for heavens' sake.  Poor.  Nobody important, nobody with any status in the eyes of that community.

It was a group of uneducated rough shepherds..... men and boys who spent their lives camping out in the hills watching sheep.  Outcasts.  Nobody important, nobody with any status in the eyes of that community.

It was a trio of strangers..... odd strangers who followed a star to locate the baby.  Weirdos.  Nobody important, nobody with any status in the eyes of that community.

Jesus' community... the one he was born into.... didn't recognize him.  It was the others.... the poor, the outcasts, the weirdos.... the marginalized... those unimportant people.  THEY were the ones who quickly saw Jesus for who he was.

We need to reflect and remember... especially if we have any status at all...  to be simple, to be humble, so that we can know Jesus.

We need to throw away the things in our lives that separate us from Jesus, some of them material things, most of them less tangible.... but barriers nonetheless.  They prevent us from 'see'ing Jesus.

Importance here on this earth... is NOT important IF you want to 'see' Jesus.

Dear God, help me to get rid of anything that keeps me from recognizing your son...... most particularly, my judgment of other people.... you know, the ones who follow stars and speak to angels?