A few years ago, my wife and I were attending a surprise birthday party for a friend. In the process of preparation, one of us had to ask my friend out pretending to have a need for his consultation until the others were all ready in my friend’s house. We were also required to park our cars far away and walked to my friend’s house, before the party starts, in order to avoid being detected. Then, as soon as my friend entered the house, we all shouted aloud, “Surprise!” The “million dollars scene” was the bright and shinny smile from my friends’ face. I think it is a great way to add color to our life.

Do you like surprises, my friends? I think the answer is it depends, because a surprise could have either positive or negative aspect. For example, we normally favor the birthday surprise, a surprise award, or a surprise promotion. However, when a surprise catches us unexpectedly which makes us uncomfortable, or in predicament, this would have a negative aspect. Sometimes, these could mean life storms.

Recently, I had another opportunity to experience a small birthday surprise, orchestrated by my brothers and sisters in Christ, in a friend’s house. It is a special one since it is the first time that I had my birthday with God’s family members instead of my own family members, as is in the past. Even with this case, I was still with a group of persons that I am familiar.  There is a surprise birthday party, however, that is very different from all of us — it is the birth of our Lord.

The surprise birthday party of our Lord, who was wrapped in a manger, was held in a stable with a group of strangers – they were shepherds living out in the fields nearby. The preparation of the party, however, was orchestrated by God and was communicated by an angel of the Lord with a great company of the heavenly host to the shepherds. Isn’t this out of the common run (不同凡響)? The angel said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 天使對他們說，不要懼怕，我報給你們大喜的信息，是關乎萬民的‧因今天在大衛的城裡，為你們生了救主，就是主基督‧ (Luke 2:10-11)

This “out of ordinary” birthday party tells me one very important aspect – “Who was born is more important than who were in the party and what kind of party being prepared”, because the angel of Lord said, “It is good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 一個大喜的信息，是關乎萬民的” Apparently, this surprise from God could give us great joy because Simeon said, “He is a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel是照亮外邦人的光，又是你民以色列的榮耀 。(Luke 2:32)”

My dear brothers and sisters, in this Christmas season, do we surprise our friends and families with the good news or gifts from this world? Let’s think it over, it is only the birth of our Lord a true surprise that we should celebrate!