Shepherds

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

There are many who have pointed out, I among them, that the shepherds were the lowest of the low in the society. I’m not exactly sure there’s a record of that in the Bible. In fact the record is just the opposite. The Bible has a long history of sheepherders, and it is anything but a lowly one. The patriarchs and Moses, the prophet Amos as well as King David and possibly Solomon were shepherds. While the shepherds outside of Bethlehem probably do no represent the mainstream or the wealthy, they are the original occupation of Israel. The patriarchs who herded their sheep also led their people, and the herders were also the sacrificers who acted as the original priests. Even in the time of Jesus the sheep belonging to these men would have been brought to Jerusalem and every priest, no matter how exalted would have had to know how to kill and sacrifice one. Indeed such a sacrifice would have been the prelude to the arrival of Gabriel before Zechariah at the beginning of this gospel.

  

I have always wondered, what did the shepherds see? To be keeping your flocks by night and to receive this angel telling you about the son of David, who was a shepherd himself, about this child who will be called the Good Shepherd. And then the shepherds go to see him, and there certainly is a baby, but what then? What do we do with a baby? That’s always been the thing about Christmas. What are the shepherds thinking? We know they go and spread the word..

What would these shepherds have said to people they met, or what would hey have expected on their way to see this infant? How long was hope in thier hearts?  I know how quickly hope abandons me, how easy it is to forget the promises shown by God in one moment. But regarding what the shepherds meet when they meet the baby Jesus, what happens next? Nothing. The world does not change. He is a baby who remains a baby until he is a toddler. He will be a child, It will be thirty years before he begins his ministry, and even then, what happens? When these shepherds who have been promised the Christ, these shepherds who, being shepherds, may not have even been thinking of the Christ see a baby, what are they thinking?

And what was Luke thinking when he gave us, in place of magi and Herod, angels, and shepherds? Matthew’s message is given through stars, through the astrological (magical?) work of those searching for God. Luke’s message is given to shepherds. Both groups are outside of the mainstream of Israel, living on the borders of propriety and common reality, as Jesus is born not only outside of Jerusalem, but outside of Bethlehem too. People who are outside of things, who would lack the ability or even the wit to find him, are sent to him. This is the grace of God, not waiting for shepherds to become wisemen, but overflowing with joy as angels bring news to him..