The Shepherds Go

Scripture             Luke 2:8-20
Focus Verse        Luke 2:15b
“Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”

During the time of this unfolding story, shepherds are in a lower socio-economic class, uneducated, poor, and migratory.  While living with their sheep, they probably didn’t smell that great.  They were not always welcome then they showed up so it is quite possible that the ones who heard the story of the shepherds would have been offended that such lowly born people were the first humans to see the Messiah.

Perhaps when Jesus calls himself the good shepherd, he is identifying with those who saw him first, giving him an affinity for the poor and humble.  After the Heavenly Host disappear into heaven, the shepherds have a meeting.  Their fear has dissipated, and they are ready to go and see the newborn king!

Reflection:  Who are the poor and humble today?   What can we learn from the shepherds? How does their centrality in the Nativity change our perception of the outsiders in our culture?

If music is a spiritual pathway for you, listen to the a capella group, Home Free, sing "Do you Hear what I Hear?"  This is a song with a fascinating story, written in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis as a powerful plea for peace by a man, Noel Regney, who had experienced the horrors of war. 

Prayer: Breathing “The Jesus Prayer”       
Breathing in … Lord Jesus Christ
Breathing out … Have mercy
*pray by breathing this prayer repetitively until the prayer prays you. You’ll know the prayer is praying you when the words come to you at random times in random places.  You will simply feel the words on your lips, in sync with your breathing.  And you have begun the process of praying unceasingly through the power of the Holy Spirit! For more information about praying The Jesus Prayer, an ancient prayer form from the days of early Christian History, practiced by the Desert Mothers and Fathers, take this LINK ...

Bethlehem

Scripture             Luke 2:1-7, Micah 5:2-5a, John 7:42   
Focus Verse        Luke 2:4
Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.

Mary and Joseph traveled 90 miles to the city of Joseph’s ancestors, south along the flatlands of the Jordan River, then west over the hills surrounding Jerusalem, and on into Bethlehem.

Emperor Augustus chose perhaps the worst time to call for a census in the life of a woman, 9 months pregnant!  It could have taken them 5 days to travel but may have taken as long as 10 days in the rough terrain of that area as Mary would need to rest at times.  Some ancient sources say Mary rode on a donkey, but others do not mention this luxury. 

Why Bethlehem?  Micah the prophet wrote about a Messiah who would be born in Bethlehem, again applicable to his own time but we see a foreshadowing of Christ.  Jesus needed to be born in Bethlehem, as the home of Joseph’s ancestral family for he was a son of David.  And so, he was. 

Reflection:  Micah says the Messiah will be one of peace.  What does peace mean to you and where do you find it?

Is there any other song to listen to today?  If music is a spiritual pathway for you, listen to this arrangement of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" arranged by Dan Forrest.  

Prayer: Breathing “The Jesus Prayer”       
Breathing in … Lord Jesus Christ
Breathing out … Have mercy
*pray by breathing this prayer repetitively until the prayer prays you. You’ll know the prayer is praying you when the words come to you at random times in random places.  You will simply feel the words on your lips, in sync with your breathing.  And you have begun the process of praying unceasingly through the power of the Holy Spirit! For more information about praying The Jesus Prayer, an ancient prayer form from the days of early Christian History, practiced by the Desert Mothers and Fathers, take this LINK ...