Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
…
And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
Luke 2:8-12, 16
I’m really fascinated by the Shepherds—this reprehensible, foul-smelling, swearing group of men that spend their days with stupid animals, far from the center of anything meaningful. But I’m really fixated on the moment of entry into the stable, or cave, or whatever it actually was where Jesus was born. Joseph, after the previous night’s humiliating negotiation for the worst room in town, after no doubt sleeplessly walking his wife through labor among cattle and filth, hears a knock at the door. Maybe the shepherds stench—a pungent blend of alcohol and sheep dung—overpowers the reek of the barn behind Joseph. And then they explain that a bunch of angels scared them all but told them that they should come check out the baby that was born here.
Is Joseph just like, “Yeah that checks out, come on in”?
Is he trying to fight them off -- after all, it wouldn’t be hard to identify Mary and Joseph as travelers in a very vulnerable position--but then maybe he hears Mary behind him calling “Let them in?”
Did Mary and Joseph just know?
I don’t know, and I don’t know that we can know. But we can see clearly that before Jesus spoke a word, probably before he was a day old, his presence was invitational. The shepherds, who in a best case scenario should expect a “Please go away,” were the first in the inner circle to witness the beginning of the world’s recreation, the see second Adam who will undo the work of the first, behold the Christ, who, once he learned to speak, would say “Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden.”
That’s Good News of Great Joy.
Go in Peace.