In recent years, I haven’t been particularly drawn to Christmas music the way I used to be. I’ll go further and confess that, this year, Advent served as more of a countdown to vacation time than anything else. But while I was in church for Christmas service, I listened to a song that I have heard a million times and something changed. All it took was one line from O Holy Night:
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices…
A gracious God met me in my weariness with Hope in hand, just as on that “Night Divine.” In response, I was drawn to the story of the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20). In Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels, Kenneth E. Bailey points out that “the first people to hear the message of the birth of Jesus were a group of shepherds who were close to the bottom of the social scale in their society.” As I pondered this, I found myself wondering what it would be like to enter their world.
Hello. My name is Mary. Not that Mary. I am…another Mary. My father is a shepherd. He works very hard, so hard that I can hear the weariness in his sighs when he comes home every night. It’s amazing what can happen in just 24 hours. Last night, my father came home. As usual, he had worked hard, but there was something different…
All of a sudden, he picks up my sister and whirls her around and around and around until their laughter fills the house from top to bottom. Then he says,
“Everybody come here! Come here right now! I have something to tell you!”
As we gather around him, I see a twinkle in his eye that he hasn’t had in a long time. He pauses. Then he says:
“You won’t believe what happened to us today while we were tending our flocks. Out of nowhere, an angel appeared and said:
‘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.’
And so we practically ran to Bethlehem and we found Him, just as the angel said. We saw Him. The Messiah. We. saw. Him.”
My father’s voice begins to waver and he just looks up, lifts his hands and shakes his head. And the tears come. I run to the corner of the room. And I sit. And I look up. And I say:
Maybe I don’t have to be a son of a rabbi for You to see me. Maybe You are listening to me after all. Me. The daughter of a shepherd. If that Mary was from Nazareth, maybe You have a purpose for me too.
Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Hear my prayer, O Lord.
Amen.
Your Call: Read Luke 2:8-20. Read it again. Sit with it. Imagine how you would feel if you were a shepherd or a part of his family and had been given hope for your weariness. Perhaps you are weary. If so, receive the hope of Christ afresh. Perhaps you know others who are weary. Offer them this hope that you are privileged to possess.
