In the Fields. . .

The Second Day of Christmas: "There were shepherds in their fields by night, keeping watch."  Suddenly, an angel announced that a King was born in "the city of David," Bethlehem. And the shepherds went to see the new baby, Jesus.  How familiar are we with this scene!

I never personally knew any shepherds although I've passed many farms here in the U.S.A. and Ireland with flocks grazing.  These shepherds, or farmers, bear little resemblance to the shepherds in Jesus' time.  I have a new perspective since visiting Israel this past October.

Our tour group saw many small flocks of sheep with their shepherds on the dry, rocky hills as we went from city to city.  The land was so dry and so bare, we wondered how the sheep could survive.  We asked our guide, Rami, about this.  He said, "They live on the dried plants on the hills.

With exception of the land areas on the coast, Sea of Galilee, Judean hills, or rivers, Israel land has very little vegetation unless irrigated.  October, 2013.

Rami told us that in Jesus' time, shepherds lived in the fields with their sheep, and were considered 'unclean' by the Jews.  In other words, not only were they poor, they were outcasts.  Yet, they were specifically invited to visit Jesus, the Son of God, lying in a manger, a feeding trough for animals.  They would not have been out-of-place!

 

The Franciscan Friars have been taking care of the church where the shepherds received the News about Jesus from the Angel for centuries.  It is a large hill.

Painting of the shepherds watching their flock in the Church of the Shepherds.

The angel is announcing the News to the shepherds.

The Shepherds find Jesus with his Mother, Mary, and Father, Joseph, in a cave.  They worship Jesus.

The Church of the Shepherds is on the top of the hill, built in a round shape.  The paintings on the walls are painted on the concave surface.  All the churches in the Holy Land are extremely well-maintained.  This was near Bethlehem, which is actually in the area of Palestine, administered by the Israelis.

View of the small Church of the Shepherds.

What about the 'shepherds,' or the poor in our lives?  Do we actually, personally know any 'poor' people?  Or do we prefer to salve our consciences by giving donations to organizations caring for the poor?  Do we give to groups working in America?  Or do we give to international groups?  Or both?

I'll admit to knowing people that have to watch what they spend and having a hard time financially, but I wouldn't consider them 'poor.'  When I was in nursing school (1990-1993), I worked with the homeless here in Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.A., for six months.  What an eye opener that was!  Only one of the dozens of men I met claimed that he chose to be homeless.  The rest lost their jobs and never recovered.  Research says that after two weeks on the streets, depression sets in and it is very difficult to overcome.

And then there were the mentally ill homeless, approximately half of the homeless.  These folks may be difficult to help.  I read a newspaper article recently saying that Lexington does less for our homeless population that comparable towns.  I find that disturbing.

One thing for sure: it's hard to get personally involved, helping people, if you're raising a family!  Now that I'm newly retired, I hope to get more involved.  My church has so many different 'helping' ministries, I'll have to pray about where I'm needed. . .

Let's think about the 'sheep.'  Our Lord Jesus wants us to follow him blindly, to do as sheep following their shepherd.  "I know mine and mine know me," says Jesus.  I think that means that we are to trust Jesus totally.  This sometimes is not easy!  I usually try my best at whatever I'm doing but sometimes I'm tired and just want to be a sheep with Jesus carrying me.

My picture of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

May the God of our lives, whose birth we are celebrating, guide us to the shepherds and sheep in our lives!