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THE SHEPHERDS FAVOURED (LUKE 2:8-14)

REFLECTION

“The Shepherds Favoured” is the theme for our reflection. The “Shepherds favoured” means they were chosen by God to receive the Good News of the birth of Christ. In other words, the shepherds were preferred among many classes of people as worthy of receiving the Good News of Salvation. We shall reflect on the fact that the news of the birth of Christ the Saviour brought glory, grace and elevation to the lowly or insignificant class of people in society.

Beloved in the Lord, the shepherds who belonged to the lower class in society were favoured and chosen by God to receive the Good News of Salvation and to express the Glory of God. Luke 2:15-20 testified that the Good News of the Lord’s birth brought favour and joy upon the Shepherds who hitherto had been considered irrelevant according to the social structure or class. Indeed, Jesus came to elevate the lowly. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:8-14) Paul’s admonishment to the Corinthians is relevant at this point when he wrote that “by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not —to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. ” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). Usually, when a king is born it is the royals that are first informed and invited to see the newborn king but the favour of the Lord was upon the shepherds because when the King of the Universe was born, the heavenly host broke the news to Shepherd first. The era of grace was inaugurated by Jesus’s birth and we the lowly and non-entities have become beneficiaries of God’s grace through Jesus Christ.  May this Christmas bring you and your family God’s blessings, favour, and elevation! 

In summary, we have discovered that the birth of Christ has brought grace or favour and elevation to the lowly. Our relevance and dignity are found in our relationship with Jesus Christ the Saviour and not in the class structure of the world. Shalom.

PRAYER

Thank you, Jesus, for favouring nonentities like us and making us part of God’s chosen generation. Glory be to your Holy name.