After the Church of the Nativity, our next stop was Shepherds' Field, an area of caves where the shepherds kept their sheep.
Shepherd's Field wasn't far from the Church of the Nativity.
The angel first announced the Good News of Jesus' birth to shepherds, the lowliest of the low.
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. 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. For today in the city of David a savior has been born. You will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."
Luke 2:8-12
Two to four shepherds would keep their sheep in the same cave. The shepherds would call to their sheep by a special whistle. The sheep knew their shepherd's whistle and would follow them. Jesus incorporated shepherds into his teachings. "I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me." John 10:14. We had Mass in one of the caves. Here Val performs a vignette of a midwife who attended Mary.
Betsey performs a dance, "Let Me Be Your Bethlehem."
At the end of Mass, Fr. Michael, holding up the red prayer bag, led us in a guided meditation, asking us to imagine holding the Baby Jesus. I later wrote down what I thought about, as I held the chubby, happy baby Jesus.
Little baby, I know what is in store for you. Rest and play easily in my arms, and I will help your mom and dad care for you.
Pilgrims, Stop Yourself before the Infant
The shepherds were the first to see this "tent," to receive the news of Jesus' birth. They were the first because they were among the last, the outcast. And they were the first because they were awake, keeping watch in the night, guarding their flocks. The pilgrim is bound by duty to keep watch and the shepherds did just that. Together with them, let us thank the Lord for having given Jesus to us, and with them let us raise from the depths of our hearts the praises of his fidelity: We bless you, Lord God most high, who lowered yourself for our sake. You are immense, and you made yourself small; you are rich and you made yourself poor; you are all-powerful and you made yourself vulnerable.
No comments:
Post a Comment