The Shepherds and Me
Christmas Eve Mass of 2000. There I was, seated on the church pews waiting for the Mass to start, and staring at the Nativity scene set up in the altar when my mind started to wander. I started to think about the shepherds on that night when Jesus was born. I wish there’s more that is written about their experience. I wish I can talk to them and ask them what they saw, what they felt. I mean it’s not everyday that you see an “extra-terrestrial being” and listen to them talk to you. Were they afraid? Did they actually believed in their hearts what they heard and saw, or were they doubting and decided to go to Bethlehem just the same? What did they expect to see in Bethlehem? This should be exciting, it’s a King that’s born, there’s probably feasting and rejoicing. Were they conscious on how they dress up that night?
At this point, I remembered how I was when I was an expectant father. I am a daddy to three darling daughters and all the time that we were expecting each of them to be born, me and my wife would excitedly prepare everything from diapers, to baby dresses, to toiletries, to crib and everything that we can possibly think of in preparation for their birth. And by the time they were born, everything has to be clean; the whole house should be clean to welcome this new comer.
Then I imagined myself with the shepherds on that night. My knees were still shaking from what I saw and heard and I do not know what to think, I just know that I’m on my way to Bethlehem. And alas, we reached the manger – The Manger?! With all those farm creatures and fresh, green hay all over? What is this, a King who is to save the world, born in a manger? If I can do a lot in preparing for my children’s birth, He certainly deserves a lot more than what I did for my children! Then, there He was, wrapped in swaddling clothes, so meek and humble and yet radiant with a light that seems to come from within Him. He exudes a scent that is not familiar but it feels so comforting. It seems like a spiritual scent, something that only my spirit can recognize. Then in my mind I said, this can’t be happening, You do not deserve to be born like this. You are The King of kings, the Lord of lords. Then with His small delicate baby eyes He looked at me and He spoke to me in my heart. “Yes, my son, I came into this world for you. I chose to be humbled so that you may have life. I love you.”
A great sense of understanding wrapped my being and made me realize what the shepherds really saw. They didn’t only see the King but they also saw themselves as persons that are forgiven, cleansed and loved by a King. I suddenly recognized who the shepherds were. Those faceless and nameless humble men are actually you and I. The very reason why God chose to be born humble – because that’s what we all are – humble creations of God. I reckon the shepherds are actually the very first Christians. For they came, they saw, they believed and they accepted Jesus as the Christ. And I believed their lives were never the same again. So together with the choir in the Mass that Sunday morning, I sang with joy and with tears in my eyes, for even before the Mass started, I already had my very personal union with God.
At this point, I remembered how I was when I was an expectant father. I am a daddy to three darling daughters and all the time that we were expecting each of them to be born, me and my wife would excitedly prepare everything from diapers, to baby dresses, to toiletries, to crib and everything that we can possibly think of in preparation for their birth. And by the time they were born, everything has to be clean; the whole house should be clean to welcome this new comer.
Then I imagined myself with the shepherds on that night. My knees were still shaking from what I saw and heard and I do not know what to think, I just know that I’m on my way to Bethlehem. And alas, we reached the manger – The Manger?! With all those farm creatures and fresh, green hay all over? What is this, a King who is to save the world, born in a manger? If I can do a lot in preparing for my children’s birth, He certainly deserves a lot more than what I did for my children! Then, there He was, wrapped in swaddling clothes, so meek and humble and yet radiant with a light that seems to come from within Him. He exudes a scent that is not familiar but it feels so comforting. It seems like a spiritual scent, something that only my spirit can recognize. Then in my mind I said, this can’t be happening, You do not deserve to be born like this. You are The King of kings, the Lord of lords. Then with His small delicate baby eyes He looked at me and He spoke to me in my heart. “Yes, my son, I came into this world for you. I chose to be humbled so that you may have life. I love you.”
A great sense of understanding wrapped my being and made me realize what the shepherds really saw. They didn’t only see the King but they also saw themselves as persons that are forgiven, cleansed and loved by a King. I suddenly recognized who the shepherds were. Those faceless and nameless humble men are actually you and I. The very reason why God chose to be born humble – because that’s what we all are – humble creations of God. I reckon the shepherds are actually the very first Christians. For they came, they saw, they believed and they accepted Jesus as the Christ. And I believed their lives were never the same again. So together with the choir in the Mass that Sunday morning, I sang with joy and with tears in my eyes, for even before the Mass started, I already had my very personal union with God.
