The shepherds

The quiet of the cave was broken by the sound of footsteps outside and looking up she saw a shepherd, standing rather shyly, I think, at the entrance.  Behind him were others and when they saw that they were welcome they came quietly in. They had been spending the night up on the hills above the town keeping watch over their sheep.  They had lit a fire in case any wild animals tried to disturb the flock, and while they were warming themselves before the blaze the angel of God suddenly appeared and round them shone a light so bright that the fire seemed to grow quite dim.  The shepherds were frightened when they first saw the angel standing by them.  “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 Saviour, 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 favours’ “ (NRSV, Luke 2:10-14).

When the angels had gone the shepherds, without waiting, ran from the hills to the town of Bethlehem below where they found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in a manger.  It was the first Christmas Day and before them lay God the Son.  He, who made the heaven and the earth, had now come to visit this world of ours as a tiny Infant and was sleeping in an armful of hay.

St Luke mentions the manger three times.  He does so because the manger was a sign to the shepherds – it told them which baby they were looking for.  And the shepherds were told that this Baby, lying in a manger, is the Messiah. (3)