I experienced a revelation recently – I realized how much I have become reliant upon experts.  If I have an issue with my car, I take it to the dealership so the expert can diagnose and fix it.  My pension program is managed by the experts at Ernst and Young.  I have a health care advisor through Wespath.  On and on the list goes.  But I am not alone in this.  We listened to the experts when it came to responding to the COVID pandemic.  We listen to the experts on health, diet, vaccinations, and more.  That is just a small sampling of the way experts impact our decision making and everyday life.  The reason we have ceded so much power to them is that we believe they possess the relevant knowledge and experience that empowers the best advice or decision.  So, we employ experts to make informed decisions on our behalf.  Unfortunately, this habit can close us off to wisdom that can come from other sources.

You might be familiar with the phrase, “out of the mouth of babes.”  It is a biblical reference more commonly used as an idiom to describe wise words spoken by the physically, emotionally, or spiritually immature.  Maybe you have had someone young speak wise words to and wonder where they came from.  I know I have.  I have been surprised by the source of revelation because I did not see that person as a usual vessel.  However, this same phenomenon is elemental to the advancement of the Gospel.

When you look at a nativity scene, you might focus on the three characters who follow the star that leads them to Bethlehem.  Our own depiction of this on the altar at St. John’s shows men in fine clothing, well adorned hats bearing gifts fit for a king.  They are the learned men, experts who read the celestial signs and found the messiah.  You might assume they would be the ones to tell the story of this new king of the Jews.  But they weren’t.  They quietly departed the scene.  The ones who did take up the angel’s song were the grungy boys who had been out in the fields with the sheep.  The least likely bearers of good news were the first to share the revelation that God was with us.

I you tell you this to remind you that you do not have to be an expert in theology, apologetics, or evangelism to share the story of Jesus’ birth.  You simply have to relay what you have seen and heard – the love of God came down at Christmas!

I invite you to take time and read each of the scriptures above followed by reflection on the questions below.  Consider the power of sharing the Gospel Good News with your family and friends this season.  Lastly, I pray that God bless the reading of God’s Word and the meditations of your heart.

Questions to Consider this week:

• Monday:  How many different experts do you rely on and for what?
• Tuesday:  Do you have a religious expert that you lean on?
• Wednesday:  Why do we look for experts to guide us?
• Thursday:  When was the last time you were surprised by wisdom that came from an unlikely source?
• Friday:  Why do you think the wise men went away saying nothing about Jesus to anyone else? 
• Saturday:  Why do you think God choose shepherds to be the first messengers of the Good News?

Actions for the Week:

• Head:  Assess your reliance on religious experts and how it shapes what you believe.
• Heart:  Dive deeply into the reasons why you might discount yourself as worthy of bearing God’s message to others.
• Hand:  Look for opportunities to share the true Christmas story with family and friends.