Perhaps they thought it was the Feds who’d come for them!
Somehow, the N.S.A. had tracked, and would condemn
Those dirty shepherds, since they had not registered,
And then, without green cards, Augustus’ wrath incurred!
But soon they found the searchlight not to be the law,
Which, with relief, provoked a different kind of awe;
That is, more powerful than all the “powers that be,”
Was then announced — as now — the holy mystery:
Quite openly, the one who saves comes not by strength
Of arm, but will not fail to go to any length
For love! Thus wrapped, so even shepherds might embrace
This child, we, too, now hold our breath, to see such grace.
—Scott L. Barton
Scott Barton is a Presbyterian minister, poet and singer living in Pelham, Mass.,
and writing at lectionarypoems.blogspot.com.
