Lent: Journey Through the Holy Land – Part 7

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth, peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Luke 2:8-20

Jesus’ first visitors were the shepherds and their sheep. While in Bethlehem we visited Shepherd’s Field – which doesn’t look like the types of fields you’d see in Kansas or Missouri. Much of the land in and around Bethlehem is rocky with very hilly terrain.

The shepherds were along the hillsides with their flock, working, when the angels appeared to them. Can you imagine just going about your day at work – doing the same old same old – an angels of the Lord appear in front of you?

It’s night, it’s dark and the shepherds are intently focusing on their sheep – accounting for each one, making sure all are okay. It’s a normal night for them. Until it wasn’t. Until the angels appeared with joyous news.

[Once at Shepherd’s Field] we entered a Franciscan chapel over the site believed to be where the angels appeared to the shepherds with good news of great joy. We entered the chapel, all 60ish of us and read the scriptures in Luke of the shepherds and their flock. We admired the paintings adorning the walls.

October 21, 2019

Matt led us in Hark the Herald Angels Sing and The First Noel. Not only do stone chapels usually have great acoustics, but this was amazing! Our voices together sounded incredible and everyone couldn’t keep from smiling and rejoicing.

October 21, 2019

Afterwards we went down into the small cave under the chapel and shared moments of prayer.

October 21, 2019

[We were left with time to explore the area and several of us] took a path down to other small caves. One that we ventured down had a small path leading back to the top. We crawled through the dark path, stooped down, discovering additional little caves and nooks. Without our flashlights on our phones, it was completely dark. I can’t imagine what it would have been like for the shepherds or Mary and Joseph.

October 21 2019

One of my favorite moments from Shepherd’s Field was our time in song together. It was our first full day in Israel, we were well rested and had walked up the Herodion earlier that morning (more about that later) and we were taking in every moment. This was our first time we were all crowded into one small space together – something that would continue to happen as journeyed together – and it was our first time singing together as a group. It was beautiful and powerful.

You haven’t really heard the beauty and joyous message of Hark the Herald Angels Sing until you’re standing in Bethlehem, in Shepherd’s Field, thinking back to that moment 2000 years ago. That moment when people who were outcast and apart from society due to their nomadic lifestyle, were given the greatest news. God chose them.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I don’t feel like God should choose me for His work. There are other’s who are way more qualified, better Christians, more devoted, etc. But He chose the shepherds, and He chooses me. He chooses you.

Do you ever feel unworthy of God using you to make a difference? Or unworthy of His love and grace? Or of the blessings He has provided you?

Well guess what? He’s not going to stop. He won’t stop loving you. Blessing you. Giving you grace. And nothing you can ever do is going to stop any of those things. Jesus was born in a cave with smelly animals and shepherds who were considered the bottom rung of society, to an engaged couple from Nazareth. God works in all circumstances.

God we are so grateful for You and the gift of Your Son Jesus. We rejoice in the good news the angels shared with the shepherds. Lord when we fell like we are unworthy of being used by You, remind us of the shepherds in the field, of the caves, of the young couple from Nazareth. Open our hearts to be used by You. Amen.

Abbey Jo