J.M.J.
Merry Christmas! Let us receive the true peace and “great joy” that this Day brings! God bless us all!
For this last Christmas of the decade, My Reflection offers a new and unique perspective — to deepen our appreciation for the Nativity of the Lord and its meaning in our lives, and to intensify our devotion to God Most High.
The Nativity
A beautiful sight of decoration in parishes and in our homes during Christmastime is the Nativity Scene or Nativity Set. Its ever-present holy figures are of course, Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The Three Wise Men, traditionally named Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar, are usually present, as well as an Angel placed at the top of the stable or cave, representing “the angel of the Lord” in the Gospel (Luke 2:9). One cute animal or more, could be a donkey, sheep or cows, are almost always added.
But there are characters relevant to the story who are somewhat often left out of the scene or not given much attention in Yuletide reflections, the first ones that came to Bethlehem to see the Nativity scene, much earlier than the Three Wise Men did—the shepherds.
A Significant Role
I have always thought that for a Nativity Scene to fully represent the humble and glorious birth of Jesus, it should include the shepherds. Why? For one, to make the scene a more accurate depiction of the Gospel’s narrative. More importantly, to remind us that these shepherds had a significant role. And their role is too meaningful to miss, especially when one reflects on the Nativity Story itself. It was to the poor shepherds, not to the rich nor the kings and queens of the world, that the angel of the Lord appeared and proclaimed the Birth of the long-awaited Savior in the city of David. They were the first people to hear of the “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10), and to see the Messiah in the flesh, “an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12), in the presence of His Mother, Mary and His Holy Foster Father, Joseph. Finally, they were among the first to worship Jesus, True God and True Man, “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20) as they returned.
But why are these shepherds unnoticed?
Perhaps because our focus is very much on the Holy Family, which is certainly correct. Or maybe, we find these shepherds, who were ‘nameless’ commoners, too ordinary, that we haven’t really given much thought about them.
Not many are aware that these shepherds, composed of men and women, were considered an ‘outcast’ of the society in their time. Pope Francis gave quite a striking description of their state in his Christmas Mass in 2017:
“By reason of their work, they were men and women forced to live on the edges of society. Their state of life, and the places they had to stay, prevented them from observing all the ritual prescriptions of religious purification; as a result, they were considered unclean. Their skin, their clothing, their smell, their way of speaking, their origin, all betrayed them. Everything about them generated mistrust. They were men and women to be kept at a distance, to be feared. They were considered pagans among the believers, sinners among the just, foreigners among the citizens.”
Before knowing this trivia from Pope Francis that the shepherds were considered “pagans, sinners and foreigners,” I imagined them cleanly dressed in ‘cute’ typical shepherd costumes, leisurely patrolling the fields with fluffy sheep around them. But far from my imagination or secular imagery, their unpleasant conditions as described above showed how they lived in such adversities.
Recognize ourselves in the shepherds
It has been two thousand years since the Nativity of the Lord. But up to now, these shepherds are always unnoticed in the Nativity Scene. We rarely give them much thought despite they got much important of a role in the Christmas drama.
But what Catholics do not realize is that many of us could actually see a part of ourselves, and relate ourselves to these poor shepherds from long ago.
Many of the Catholic faithful are as ‘poor’ in state as those shepherds in a sense that they are financially poor, sick, oppressed and afflicted. There are those who face a mountain of debts, and barely live from paycheck to paycheck. Others suffer physically from disabilities and mentally from illnesses, such as depression and various anxiety disorders. Some suffer emotionally because of deep wounds and hurts caused by others, and sometimes, even by their own families and friends. There are also a portion of Catholics who suffer spiritually from demonic oppression and possession, because of their own sinfulness in the past, of ignorance and negligence of practicing the occult, or the wickedness of those who sent them spiritual afflictions through occult means.
Nowadays, those who are faithful and openly practicing Catholics struggle to fit in their increasingly secular environment. And not only those dressed in rags would be considered an ‘outcast’ like the shepherds. Because of Faith, a lot of Catholics are persecuted for defending their Christian rights, morals and values. Some Catholics can also feel like ‘outcasts’ in their own families and societies due to their differences in religion, ideas, beliefs, and even personalities.
But the thing in common with many of us Catholic faithful is this—even in such adversities, we all keep holding on to the Catholic faith!
Keep the Good News at work in our lives
1. 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 2:10
In the midst of hurts they went through because of the harsh treatment of the society to them back then, the shepherds received such an extraordinary grace to hear of the Good News of mankind’s salvation directly from the Angel of the Lord. I think we could also relate our lives to that. Because amidst the many hardships we now experience as Catholics, it helps to remember that we, too, were once receivers of the Good News.
We each have our own stories of how we have known and come to accept the teachings of the Catholic Church and grow in our faith—as children because our parents taught them; as grown ups when we were catechized in parishes; as students when we learned of the Faith through Catholic classes in schools and Theology courses in universities; as seekers of the Truth when were touched and moved by the articles we read in Catholic blogs and sites; for cradle Catholics, when we resolved in our hearts that we would stick with Roman Catholicism as our lifelong religion; or for converts, when they finally decided that they would convert to the Catholic Church!
And most of the time, for so many of us Catholic faithful, there is some form of ‘woundedness’ in our faith stories, like those shepherds endured. That is because Jesus came for the sick; the wounded and the brokenhearted:
“Jesus heard this and said to them [that], ‘Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.'”
– Mark 2:17
But the nostalgia of the exact moment or in those particular moments when we decided for ourselves that we believe in God and accept His Word that He proclaims to us through Scripture greatly strengthens us to think back on the joy, peace and hope we felt.
2. “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. So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.”
– Luke 2:15-16
After their vision of the angels, the shepherds took action without delay. It is one valuable example of how we must act in response to the commands of God and the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
It is also said that the shepherds went to Bethlehem in “haste,” which means that they rushed because of so much excitement! They could not contain the joy and happiness any longer. Remember those times when you learned something ‘new’ or amazing about the Catholic faith that made you exclaim, “Wow, I didn’t know this before!” With your excitement, you also felt a ‘renewed’ sense of faith that “Nothing would ever separate me from God and the Catholic Church.”
Next, “they found Mary and Joseph,” and indeed with “the infant lying in manger,” as the Angel told them. The shepherds did not only see them there; they also witnessed the overwhelming love and power of God that binds the Holy Family as one! As Catholics, we feel comforted in knowing that the Blessed Mother is ever present in our lives, to pray for us, to protect us, to guide us, and to serve as our Model in improving our practice of the Catholic faith. The same is true with Saint Joseph. I imagine that the shepherds were so astounded at the sight of the Messiah that they would not have dared to approach Him in the manger without the loving invitation from Mary and Joseph. Thus, whenever we find ourselves too distressed or fearful to approach Jesus, let us draw ourselves closer to Our Lady and Saint Joseph for they are the surest way that leads us to Jesus.
3. “When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.”
– Luke 2:17-18
We may recall the times when after searching for the Child of Bethlehem in our lives, finding Him, and accepting him, we could not contain in ourselves those revelations, that we ‘just had to share it’ or proclaim it to our friends and family members, or to fellow Catholics. It is worthy to share to them the knowledge we acquire about the Catholic faith through Catechism and other channels, just as the shepherds shared the message to other people that lived there.
4. “Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.”
– Luke 2:20
Personally, I think Saint Luke wrote this verse to highlight what the shepherds did after they came to Bethlehem and found God. Perhaps it’s safe to say that they went back to their usual rough and tough shepherd lives. For sure, they did not go back to their homes carrying loads of riches, because accepting and worshiping the Child Jesus did not make them wealthy or powerful. Despite returning to their old ‘poor’ lives though, I believe that something had changed—their selves were all new. By God’s grace, they must have started their life anew, rich in faith, hope and charity, deeply inspired by “all they had heard and seen.”
Many Catholics get disheartened for not finding “wealth and riches” in practicing the Catholic faith. But ‘true shepherds,’ the true servants and handmaids of God, are those who keep devoted to the Faith amidst sufferings, trials, and tribulations. Sometimes, we even find ourselves going through “the dark night of the soul,” which is a phrase coined by Saint John of the Cross. Like what the shepherds did, we must rejoice in the Lord and give glory to God Whose goodness overcomes all poverty, unholy desires and sinful attachments in this world.
The shepherds also remind us to be grateful to God for the countless graces He bestows upon us. How do we show our gratefulness to God? One way is by not keeping Him to ourselves and to our loved ones alone. We must try to glorify God by being a ‘light’ to those people and in those places that refuse to accept Jesus Christ, letting them see and feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in us through our good examples of the Christian way of life, acts of charity and corporal works of mercy, and treating them with kindness—in other words, a person’s life should itself become a prayer of thanksgiving and praise.
Be reminded that while we are not like members of those royal families and distinguished politicians and personalities, who, whenever they go to charity events get covered by the news and media, with all their pictures taken by paparazzis, let us do our acts of charity in lowliness and humility. For our Father Who sees in secret will repay us (Matthew 6:4).
5. “And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”
– Luke 2:19
Most of all, Mary pondered in her heart that very joy that the shepherds felt and that very action of the shepherds, which was to make known to other people the message that the Angel told them, to share the Good News.
What these poor people, ‘outcasts’ in society, did was an act of love for God, and they were the very ones that Mary held dear.
So allow me to say that you should know that no matter how ‘poor’ your state is today, and how much you are suffering, as long as you love and revere her Son, know that the Blessed Virgin Mary ponders you in her heart this Christmas and forever. Like the shepherds, to be cherished by Our Blessed Mother is one of the greatest favors that God has bestowed upon us in this earthly life.
Conclusion
Knowing that God has willed His Divine Plan to the finest detail, we must realize that His choice to announce the Lord’s Birth to the shepherds was purposeful. He did not just select some random audience to watch a show. Instead, by His grace, He invited those shepherds to be among the first witnesses of “the Word made flesh.” This part of the Nativity story clearly affirms one of the themes in the Gospel of Saint Luke, which Mary proclaimed in her Magnificat — God lifts up the lowly. He especially reveals Himself and bestows His favors to the lowly. And in many ways, we are like the lowly shepherds who rely on God looking upon us with His favor, grace and promise.
In giving emphasis on the shepherds in this Reflection, we realize that they ultimately point us back to the central figures of the Nativity—Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mary, Joseph. And so the next time we see a Nativity Scene, with or without the shepherds, reflect for a moment and gaze at the Holy Family with awe and reverence, remembering that we, like the shepherds, are always invited to receive the Good News of our Savior’s Coming into our hearts.
Remember to keep that “great joy” we felt the first time we made the will to embrace Jesus Christ and His Church in our lives, and say, “I want to belong to Jesus, and stay Catholic all my life!” Our very souls always bear that Christian joy deep within us, even though we do not feel it at times.
We must let the favor of God continue to rest upon us by going out there, like the shepherds did, trying to do the Will of God amidst this crazy life, and being a true reflection of genuine Catholic faith to others.
Above all, let the reason for our actions be love for God, as we cling to Mary’s Heart, keeping alive in ourselves the Good News that was announced to those shepherds on the first ever Christmas.
Saint Joseph, pray for us!
Mama Mary, pray for us!
Amen.
She graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, the country's Pontifical and Catholic university, with an AB in Legal Management and minor units in Theology.
As an unmarried woman, prayer holds a central place in her daily life, with a focus on the Rosary and the Divine Office. Embodying her faith, she emphasizes the growth of her inner spiritual life, guided by the wisdom of Carmelite spirituality.
God manifested to her in a unique and radical manner, which made her know Who He truly is and led her to total surrender of her life to Him.
She has studied the Bible with her family, developing a particular fondness for the Old Testament.
Her adorable and intelligent toy poodle is a delightful companion in her daily life, bringing warmth and joy to her home.
Her hobbies include reading about everything, learning Japanese and German, listening to music and playing the flute.
In her leisure time, she enjoys gaming on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo 3DS, iOS and OS, and collecting things related to PlayStation and Nintendo.
Email: [email protected]
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