A DRAMATIC BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all were proceeding to register for the census, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because thre was no room for them in the inn.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepehrds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
(Luke 2: 1-20)

A couple of years ago, I chanced upon someone critiquing Luke's story of Christ's birth, calling it fiction because of the detail about shepherds with multiple flocks being gathered in one place. According to the critic, shepherds are usually out in far-flung fields, where the flocks would not mix at all. The critic felt that because Luke got this detail "wrong," it made the whole story about angels appearing and shepherds running into town to see the baby suspect.

When I read that, I could only shake my head. Again, all that research I had done years before about King David and the actual practice of shepherding in those lands had taught me a key detail. What I learned was that each shepherd had about a two week duty with the flock. The shepherd would lead the flock out on a circuit, slowly letting them munch their way through various pastures. One week outward bound, the second week back toward town. On his return, the shepherd would take his flock to a large fold, which had a wall (probably only 3 or 4 feet high, just enough to keep the sheep from wandering). The flock would be let into this fold, and the "on duty" shepherd would trade off with the next one. Jesse, David's father, had large flocks and many shepherds, so David was only one of several. Other sheep owners would be doing the same things with their flocks. An archeological dig actually turned up the remains of this fold outside the walls of Bethlehem.

So, Luke's reportage is actually rather accurate. Unfortunately, the good doctor was probably not versed in this detail, and didn't realize that the shepherds being at the common fold was not their "usual" place. But it does explain why there were several shepherds gathered together, why they felt comfortable leaving the flocks (all the sheep were inside a gated and closed fold), and why they were near enough to the town to even run in and see the baby the angels spoke of.

I've always been fond of this part of the Christmas story. Some of that comes from singing in the chorus for Handel's Messiah for several years. I read the verses, but hear the music in my head. "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying---" In the oratorio, that's a quick, bright solo, and then the chorus bursts out "GLORY TO GOD!" What a spectacular moment it must have been.

I like the moment when the angel appears to the shepherds. Suddenly he was there, and the shepherds were terrified. It wasn't just that "this guy" suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It was that whoever and whatever he was, he was of such a different mode of being that the shepherds knew without a doubt this was not some other human. And the angel has to reassure them that he's not there to destroy them. "Don't be afraid!"

I see lots of Christmas cards with angels on them, very pretty angels. Sweet feminine forms, with flowing long hair, lightly holding musical instruments, giant beautiful swan-like wings spread out behind them, feathers and all. I recognize what these figures are supposed to be, but they never mesh with the description in scripture. The angels we scatter about in our decorations these days are more an expression of our sentimental feelings about the holiday than they are invocations of the actual event. These angels are sweet, gentle, friendly, even motherly, hovering about giving soothing strokes to our hearts.

But they are not particularly terrifying. None of these pretty "angels" would have any need to say "Do not be afraid" to a group of young men whose daily job is to keep watch for dangerous animals, who have probably fought off bears or lions while protecting their sheep, who have probably even fought off thieves intent on stealing sheep. A pretty feminine angel is not likely to shake men such as that.

This is why the angels I draw tend to be fierce creatures. No feathers on my angels - I imagine them as having wings of flame and light. They were, just moments ago, standing in the presence of God, gazing at His face. So I see their faces as being as keen and pure as the freshly honed edge of a knife blade. They are brisk, not lingering - they want to get back to standing in God's glory. They have their duty to deliver this message, but the real stuff is back in the light of God's face. It's not that they are hostile, it's just there's nothing in our world to compare with the Lord's presence.

Except for that baby.

All that the angels know of heaven, of the wonder and majesty of standing in God's presence, all the power and glory that they sing praises to for ever and ever -- all that has taken up residence in a little baby, born into shabby, temporary quarters, and the only cradle space available was a feed box in a stable area.

But if that is where God is, that is where God is.

And there's the wonder of it all. The glory, power and awesome spectacle of God in Heaven has taken up residence in a tiny infant, with delicate skin, tiny hands, great vulnerability, born into the most humble of circumstances in a borrowed location. And this great announcement is made to the rough and tumble workers who are most disregarded in their society, for they are almost always stinking of the animals they have to tend. And God thinks that is appropriate.

Have you heard the news? Christ the Savior is born!