When the waves of the dark night crashed and rippled around the nomads, darkness did not enter their hearts, for the word of God let the light of hope go into them. They saw the glories of heaven and heard the good tidings of salvation from the angels’ mouths.
The shepherds jumped up and ran quickly. They probably stumbled in the dark, but they continued their way toward Bethlehem, investigating and searching until they found Jesus. Then they saw nothing but a lowly manger, ordinary wrappings, a babe in a stable with animals, a simple woman, and a poor man. They saw no angels, no glory, and no indication of well being or divinity. However, they caught the same smell of sheep, which was familiar to them.
Then they fell on their knees in submission, knowing that God has come to the world, and particularly to them, unwise, despised shepherds. They were of the first seers of the babe who changed the world. Yet, they were not slow in believing the words of the angel, but saw the King in the manger and recognized him in spite of the poor condition.
Dear brother, did you hear the Lord’s call? Did you realize it completely? Take firm hold of it and complete it. Then you will meet your Lord personally, and find that he is gentle and lowly in heart. He will make you lowly and you will find rest for your soul.
When the shepherds fell on their knees before their Lord in faithful thankfulness, they testified with great joy what they saw in the fields, and all those who heard them were amazed, especially Mary and Joseph who, once again received, through this news, a divine confirmation of their obedience of faith. Mary said nothing, but heard, believed, and compared the newly announced names of her Son with those he already had. She kept those treasures of the Holy Spirit in her heart, and probably told Luke personally of these incidents, which he exclusively reported, and consequently became the expressive spokesman and trumpeter of Mary’s reports.
When the shepherds left the stable, they filled the town with their wonderful news. The people were greatly astonished, and considered the story as fable fabricated by the shepherds. None of the people paid attention to the whole story. They had neither interest nor time to visit the stable because of their businesses and greed to earn money from the travelers who filled all the houses. Therefore, the Bethlehemites did not run to the manger, nor did they worship to the King who was in the midst of them. None of them came to see Christ, neither the mayor, nor the traders, nor the prominent, nor the teachers, nor the boys, nor the mothers. None of them looked for Jesus, because of their engagement in earning money. They served mammon, and consequently remained wandering about in their darkness.
The shepherds turned their backs to the shallow-minded people, and went away glorifying and praising God, back to their place on the hill. They moved back to their flocks, praising God and singing hymns to him. They heard his word and believed it. They saw the Promised One, honored him and bore witness to him. Thus they magnified God and continued in grace.
Dear reader, what is your attitude? Whom do you look like in this story? Are you still in the night of sins, as the shepherds were before the angel appeared to them? Are you still superficial as the Bethlehemites were upon hearing the good tidings of salvation? Did you hear the living word of your Lord, believe it, run to the center of the world, and find Christ living? Then he will fill you with his peace, and send you to the world so that you may become a witness to his humility. Do you testify the incarnate love of God among people? Do you magnify the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? Did you become a shepherd testifying the riches of the grace of God? Magnify your heavenly Father by your faith and faithfulness, for there is born to you this day the Savior who is Christ the Lord. Do you believe in him with commitment, thankfully and cheerfully?