Following the Shepherds

Christmas Day
December 25, 2007

The Reverend Paul R. Abernathy, Rector

Shepherds. Long serving. Long suffering. Laboring endless hours through hot days under the sun and cold nights ‘neath the stars.

Shepherds. Such a better, more fitting symbol of our common humanity than the magi, astrologers and philosophers from the distant East, King Herod, or the religious leaders.

But wait! Back in the day of first century Palestine, shepherds were oft considered dishonest and unlawful – allowing their flocks to graze indiscriminately, illegally on other peoples’ lands.

So, it seems, they are far more common than we thought or perhaps too common to be those with whom we would desire to associate. Nevertheless, it is to these lowly and perhaps even low-life shepherds that the angelic message first was declared.^[1]

So, why to them? But before we seek an answer, let us ask, what was the angelic message proclaimed to the shepherds?

As we, in one of our Christmas carols,^[2] ask of them:

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why these songs of happy cheer?
What great brightness did you see?
What glad tidings did you hear?

Luke tells us. A savior is born who is the sign that God wants, God wills peace in the world.

Peace. Not merely the absence of war, but that state of concord, harmony within one’s self, among all peoples, and between all creatures and the creation.

It is because of this declaration that the angels say, “Glory to God in the highest!” It is because of this declaration that we sing, “Gloria in excelsis Deo!”

So, now, what? Now, having heard afresh the word from on high, what do we do?

I think that there is no better course than to follow the shepherds, who went, saw, declared what they had heard, and then returned to the fields and to their flocks. But with a difference. They, having taken the message to mind and heart, returned continuously “glorifying and praising God.”

What would it be for us if we, this day, were to leave this place, returning to our lives as we know them to continuously glorify and praise God? What would it be for us to seek peace in our hearts with ourselves, peace with all others, and peace with the creation?

This Christmas, this – peace-seeking and peace-making – perhaps would be the greatest gift we could give ourselves, others, and, indeed, the world.

[1] The gospel passage appointed for the day is Luke 2.8-20.

[2] Angels we have heard on high, verse 2