Seeing God clearly

Gospel LK 2:16-21

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message 
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen, 
just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision,
he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.

It's interesting that the message of Jesus birth was first embraced by humble shepherds and not by the rabbis or pharisees.  As the story goes, many of the religious "elite" never came to accept Jesus as the Son of God.  Why is that?  Sometimes knowing too much gets in the way of us seeing the truth.  The truth often does not look like what we think it should.  I am at my best when I put aside my judgments and preconceived notions.  Often God is present when I least expect him and when I look for Him through the lens of humility I can see clearly.