Why Shepherds?

"Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night 

watch over their flock." Luke 2:8

I've been decorating my home for Christmas and yesterday, I put up my nativity - cradling the statues of Mary and Joseph and the manger with Jesus (sorry Father - yes my manger already has baby Jesus in it - for it is all one piece - and I know, if I put it somewhere safe till Christmas morning - I will either one forget to put it in the nativity or two - and most likely - forget where that safe place was.)  And then there were the shepherds and this had me thinking....have you ever asked yourself - "why in the world would there be shepherds in the Christmas story?"

Let's be honest - shepherds were not the most desirable members of society.  They were dirty and stinky - remember, they spend their life with sheep.  I'm sure they were not as educated as others.  So why would something so pure as Angels and the birth of the Christ Child have these dirty stinky shepherds being the first to hear the good news?

The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, 

and they were struck with great fear.  The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, 

I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." Luke 2:9-10

Just imagine - here it is the dead of night and a light suddenly shone so brightly - I bet it would look as if a boom went off - no wonder they were afraid.  I think if an angel lite up my night - I would be afraid too.  Again I ask, "why shepherds?"  Why not appear to a more desirable group of people - they could have still kept it lowly and appeared to blacksmiths, shop keepers, owners of Inns.  I have my suspicions it all has to do with "hope" for the angels tells the shepherd the savior is for them.

For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you 

who is Messiah and Lord.  Luke 2:11

If the Messiah is for the lowly shepherds, then the Messiah is for all people.  It is hope and acceptance.  The Messiah is not there for just the rich and powerful - not if the shepherds are the first to hear to news from the angels.  For it would have been custom that when a child was born - the head of the household would have been told (that is still true today - for the Queen of England it told first of a royal baby's birth before anyone else in the family.)  And yet - the angels first came to shepherds.

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 

"Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, 

which the Lord has made known to us."  Luke 2:15

Now here is where it get's interesting -- we've already established that the shepherds were dirty and stinky -- I did not hear them say "Let's go clean up and then go to Bethlehem."  Did you?  No, they left their sheep (which would have been a big "no no" back then) and headed straight away to Bethlehem.  Jesus does not tell us - go get your life in order - and then come to me.  No - he just says "come, come with your brokenness for I can make you whole."

So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, 

and the infant lying in the manger.  Luke 2:16

I ask you, what new mother would want someone who is dirty and stinky there with their newborn child?  Today, we have to thoroughly wash our hands and use hand sanitizer when we visit the hospital to see a new baby. And still new moms are nerves.  So, think of Mary - did she fear these dirty stinky shepherds surrounding her just born baby son?  The Gospels tells us just the opposite.

All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them 

by the shepherds.  And Mary kept all these thinks, 

reflecting on them in her heart.  Luke 2:18-19

No, Mary realized what was happening and reflected on God's goodness.  Mary and Joseph welcomed the shepherds as a foretelling of how this little infant would welcome the sinner.  Welcoming them as they were, who they were - people of God who were filled with great joy.

This Advent - welcome the stranger in your midst - the lowly, the poor, the dirty and stinky.  For they are just like us - looking for the hope that the Christ Child brings into the world.

Mirror of the Cross

I've been a little melancholy (ok to be honest - a lot) of late and have found my prayer life a struggle at times.  And so, as I was in my weekly adoration and was not surprised to find I didn't have anything really to say or pray.  So, I followed the advise of my favorite Psalm (Psalm 46) I was still and sat knowing that He was God and simply gazed upon the Blessed Sacrament.

As I looked at the Blessed Sacrament, it struck me that it sat upon the Altar and directly in front of the cross.  As if to say to me through this holy food, you receive graces from the sacrifice of the cross.

Hmmm...  So as it does, my mind began to wonder and I landed on the book of St. Clare that I had read recently and her Mirror of the Cross.  St. Clare said when we gaze upon the cross, it should be a mirror reflecting back to ourselves.  I have found this concept very interesting since I read it.  So, I began to think about just what do I see in the cross --- obedience for sure - we know from the Garden, Jesus asked for this cup to pass by him, but he would be obedient to the Father's will; I see mercy - Jesus asked from the cross for the Father to forgive us; I see love - He made sure that his mother was taken care of; and a giving of oneself to another without conditions or expectation of repayment.

The last item took my breath away - for I know it is one that I personally struggle with - giving to others without conditions.  I believe it is one of the messages society is giving us today -- "what's in it for me."  Only give of our time, talent or treasure if there is something in it for us.  Only loving others if they love us back or live up to what we expect.  Only forgiving others after they have shown to us repeatedly they are sorry.

This realization came to me as I sat before the cross and it made me very sad - for I know I have fallen into this trap many times.

So, now that I know this - what am I going to do with it?  For one, I need to get back to my regular prayer routines - even if at times I don't feel that the Father is listen (I know in my heart He is listening - I think I'm just not accepting the answer.)  I need to also get back to my regular devotion to the Rosary.  And I believe it would be good if would sit and look upon the cross a few minutes each day looking into the mirror to determine if I see Christ looking back at me or only my own will.  But most of all I need to work on my attitude of approaching each day not with expectations of what I can get - but of what can I give to another person.

Advent is here, it is a wonderful time to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ Child.  It's a time to evaluate our lives and look upon the cross and most of all - know that we are loved by God.