The shepherds’ candle...
This is the third week of advent...if one is celebrating with an advent wreath, that means a pink candle signifying the joy of the shepherds ...
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them, “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. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”
Luke 2:8-20
Simple, humble shepherds doing their work...watching their sheep...living out in the fields...
As we traversed Israel this spring, we saw magnificent towns, churches, excavations, learned history, saw sites of famous places and people... but two of my most memorable times was sighting shepherds amongst their flocks on the hillside...real shepherds, real sheep, real fields...I got to walk among the sheep, “talk” to the shepherd( who was carrying an iPhone ), but watching his sheep...
Oh, I have been around sheep since birth...my father raised sheep before cattle... my grandfather raised sheep, two of my children raised sheep, I used to spin wool on a homemade spinning wheel before progressing to a real one from New Zealand...so being around sheep is not new...
but, seeing a shepherd in the Holy Land was touching...this was where Jesus declared himself the Good Shepherd, this was where shepherds saw and heard the declaration of the angel and then a host of angels singing...where shepherds rushed from their flocks to find the baby Jesus...where shepherds glorified and praised God for all they had heard and seen, spreading the word about the Word...humble, simple, everyday, joyful shepherds...
Thank YOU for these servants, these keepers of the flocks, these chosen ones, these joyful shepherds who shared what they had heard and seen ...these first “missionaries”...taking the Word to those who would listen...
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