It was over. The shepherds had gone back to their flocks. The three wise men had gone to wherever they were going, the other visitors that had come to see what was going on had drifted away to other things, and the animals had begun to settle back down in the straw. Mary was resting and the baby was sleeping soundly. Joseph looked around the room and let out a long, deep breath. “It was over.” He leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes, looking forward to a much-needed long night’s sleep.

Then the angel showed up.

We come together here after our week of celebrating one of the central holidays of our faith. And, as we gather, many of us have one key thought running through our minds.

“It is over! We survived another one!”

Although this is a joyous season of celebration in the …