The First Noel: Following the Shepherds
The First Noel: Following the Shepherds
Luke 2:8-16
Advent Series - Christmas Carols: Songs of Hope on the Way to Bethlehem
December 7, 2025 Second Sunday of Advent
Rev. Cynthia Cochran-Carney, First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael, CA
PDF OF SERMON AVAILABLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" 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 thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.
Simple joys of Christmas. Decorating the tree and talking about ornaments. Going to Christmas concerts and light show at the Civic Center. Making cookies and other favorite foods. Enjoying the decorations at church – new ones and ones from the past.
Then the phone rings or I read an email or talk to someone and I know the exuberant joy of Christmas can feel ambiguous and short-lived. The angels sing out God's glory, yet we live -- like Jesus' family -- in a world of suffering. This can be a hard time of year.
We are looking for joy in a time of personal, national, and global uncertainty. Many people have lost their jobs – federal employees and many in private sector. Still, for others it will be a "blue Christmas" as a result of personal loss -- separation, divorce, estrangement, or the death of a loved one or an illness taking most of their energy and attention. Joy and sadness and uncertainly woven together.
In the biblical story, in that context, Mary and Joseph are faced with joy and uncertainty. They are citizens of an occupied territory. There was fear. There was worry about having enough food. Would the trip to Bethlehem be safe? Mary and Joseph journey to Bethlehem for the census for the Romans to tax them. Mary gives birth to this infant, a vulnerable baby, in a room near the animals. A birth brings joy and hope but also uncertainty.
In our passage today, the angelic messengers deliver the good news to shepherds "living in the fields," enduring the elements without a roof over their heads. There is nothing romantic about this theophany; the life of the shepherd was lonely, harsh. Their job is necessary for society, but they have low social status. Essential but not valued. And yet this is where the good news of Jesus’ birth goes – to these shepherds. This is in the most unlikely place, the angelic voices ring out. God gives glad tidings in the least expected places. Those shepherds must have heard this joyful news but been uncertain of all its meaning. And this news comes at night.
Unexpected places for good news. That is what the writer of The First Noel must have been thinking about. The writer decides to pick up the Christmas story with the shepherds at night.
"The First Noel" is an anonymous English carol with roots in the 15th century. It was featured in 1823 publication by Davies Gilbert in Some Ancient Christmas Carols and the 1833 publication by William Sandys in Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern.
Its title uses the French word "Noel," meaning "Christmas," which comes from the Latin natalis ("birth"). The carol's lyrics are inspired by biblical accounts of the Nativity, particularly Luke 2 and Matthew 2, and the tune is thought to be older, with a resemblance to medieval French poems.
Early roots: The carol likely originated in England, possibly in the Cornish region of England sometime between the 13th and 14th centuries, during a period of popular "miracle plays" based on Bible stories. Before people had Bibles to read, they watched the plays or looked at tapestries. When we sing The First Noel, we notice the writer put two different stories together. One commentator said the writer of the words would likely have been illiterate. The poem passed down in oral tradition and finally written down 300 years later.
Two verses about the shepherds – following the star to Bethlehem. But they did not. Only the wise ones from the East, Persia, followed the star.
So although it is not accurate in terms of the text, Luke and the writer of The First Noel wanted to make it clear - Christmas includes the lowly sheperds. Features them. For hundreds of years, Christmas carols like this, a folk song in origin, were not part of religious services. Not allowed to be sung in churches. Considered too informal, not holy or sacred. These songs became part of the voice of the people.
This is an example of God using ordinary people, unlikely people, to hear the good news of Divine Love and Grace. This for all people – lowly shepherds, illiterate poets. Each one experienced some moments of mystery and light around this birth story of Jesus.
Each one beloved. This is a central part of the Christmas story. Part of the surprise of blessing and good news. All people are made in the divine image. No one is “garbage.” The leader of our country used that term to describe a group of people this past week.
In this season of Advent, of living by our hopes more than our fears, we reject any reference to a person or ethnic group as garbage. The shepherds were not garbage nor are immigrants or people from Somalia or any country.
The shepherds were certainly surprised and in awe to hear the angels sing good news. They took a leap of faith and went to Bethlehem at night, in the dark. To be in awe, to be grateful.
What might we discover in the dark? What might those shepherds teach us?
Why shepherds? Was it because they were awake and watching, alert, as a habit of the work? to any anomaly? Did their work of caring and tending predispose them to the announcement of newborn love? Were they lonely out there, and did that cosmic song to comfort them?
However it was, the song of the universe, with news of God-with-us, came to shepherds, in the middle of an ordinary night. And the signal was so strong, so clear, so persistent, that not only could they feel it, but they could hear it, and not only could they hear it, but they could see it, and not only could they see and hear it, but they understood it, and not only did they understand, but when at last the light faded, they got up, and went searching for that source of love.
Here we are on the Second Sunday of Advent. And there is music in the air. The song of the universe is singing for you. Not just here, not just on the long dark nights, but always.
We have come from love, and to that love we will return.
Here, in this life, maybe, not unlike the shepherds, a few times in our life we might actually hear the song. Maybe you have heard it? Maybe there’s been that moment when the joy was so strong in you, or love was so powerful, or your very own deep longing welled up from the core of your core and suddenly you were palpably connected to a light and song – maybe angelic, certainly a mystery – an awareness of love and grace that is the music of the spheres.
Sometimes, some of us are just that lucky – lucky like the shepherds, to hear the music. But whether or not we ever hear it – whether or not it ever breaks through and sings in glory around us – that music, that song of love is still there. It holds us. It renews our hearts for love. It gives us strength. It is always and forever singing the good news: God is with us. God is here.
May a hopeful and joyful Noel be in our hearts. Amen
Resources
Ace Collins, Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas (2001: Zondervan) pp. 41-46
Rev. Lisa Larges, “Merry Christmas! God is Here!” 12/25/21 Lake Nokomis Pres. Church https://kara-root.blogspot.com/2021/12/merry-christmas-god-is-here.html