I wonder if you’ve had the pleasure of attending any nativity plays this December and seen the shiny eyes
of excited Children talk of the story of Christmas – a story we know so well, passed on year after year
through plays, carols and perfect pictures on Christmas cards. In fact, just this afternoon we had around 35
people right here at the front of church acting out that very old story.

In our reading, we’ve just heard the ‘story’ once again, straight from the bible. Has it made us pause and think afresh, of what was being asked of a heavily pregnant lady? Being made to travel what would have been over 70 modern day miles, across dangerous open ground, a journey of at least several days. Even if there had been a donkey to carry her, this would have been a difficult and arduous trip.

Coupled with this the pressure people were under, living under an oppressive regime, life would not have
been easy. Before the arrival of the Roman Empire, the Jews had been struggling against Syrian domination, and this land was ruled from Syria, by a governor appointed by Rome. Therefore, the government ruling the Jews were just for show, but were wholly controlled by Syrian and Roman power – a puppet government. As happens here, those in government really can control the lives of all of us, who live by it’s laws and demands, hence Mary had no choice but to go to be registered.

The census would have been taken to give government an oversight of which regions were the richest,
where the wealth of the country lay – everything would have been counted, the people, animals, crops –
so that the government would be able to tax people to the maximum, in effect it was an opportunity for
exploitation.

It is against this backdrop that we can look afresh at the shepherds, ‘living in the fields, keeping watch over
their flock by night’. Let’s think back to the nativity plays we may have seen, happy little shepherds holding
cuddly white sheep, and wearing a huge smile as they excitedly go to see this new born child. But think of the reality, living outside of the town walls in open country, living and sleeping with their flocks, the dangers and deprivations would have been huge. They would have known of the census, there would probably be much talk of how they protect their flocks, not against a lone wolf, but against the brutality of a regime that might take the little they have and punish them for talking negatively of all that is going on in the leadership of their country.

And suddenly out of the darkness of night, appears an unknown person, an angel. They had kept out of the
way, not drawn any attention to themselves, so what could this be?

Can we begin to imagine the ethereal brightness and beauty, the glory of the Lord shimmering and shining,
glowing in the absolute pitch darkness, is it any wonder that the shepherds were terrified? But the angel spoke and said to them,

‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people’.

If that had been you, how do you think you might have reacted? What could this news be? Luke often uses the phrase ‘the people’ to mean those on the margins of society, and here we have those that were some of the lowest in society having the news of the birth of the messiah shared with them first!

And off they go, with haste, to see this thing that has happened. I do wonder if they took their flocks, or if
in their haste they were left behind. We don’t know; but we do know that these quiet, marginal folk, living
invisible lives on the hillside suddenly rushed off to Bethlehem, where they find exactly what the angel told
them and it seems that they were welcomed.

We know that the shepherds returned, as Luke tells us this in his writing, in fact they returned ‘glorifying
and praising God for all they had heard and seen’, they have clearly been transformed by God! However,
we don’t know where they returned to, if they ever went back to being shepherds. But what we do know is
that they ‘made known what had been told them about this child’, they shared the good news with everybody they came across – ‘and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.’ These
humble folk, became the first evangelists for a new born messiah.

This choice of the shepherds as the first evangelists reflects the nature of Christ’s mission; Jesus came for all but especially for the meek and the needy, to give a voice for all regardless of our position in society. As we stand on the cusp of Christmas Day, can we allow God to transform our hearts, to enable us to go out and share his love, joy and light with all we meet, regardless of status?

Can we be as eager as those shepherds in doing ‘with haste’ what God asks of us? As we leave here tonight
are we ready to do as we are asked in the words of that wonderful poem and carol:

‘What can I give him, poor as I am?.. Yet, what can I give him?… Give my heart.’

Service: Rev Rebecca Yates, 25th December 2024. (St John’s Church Peterborough UK)

Readings: Isaiah 9:2-7 / Luke 2:1-14 [15-20]