The first guests were the ones on the night shift

On the night Jesus was born, some shepherds were keeping watch over their flock in shifts near Bethlehem. It was hard, undervalued work. Angels appeared to them to announce that the Savior had been born, and they hurried to see him (Lk 2:8-20). God could have told the temple priests or the authorities first. He chose simple people who were awake, working while others slept. Today there are also many night shifts: those caring for someone who is ill, those cleaning, those driving, those working while everyone else celebrates. Christmas says that God comes especially close to them. And it invites us not to forget those who can't rest over the holidays.