Christmas

Shepherd's Story

Abp. Leslie "Mary" Trombly

Biblical Reference: Luke2:8-20

My name is Benjamin Bar-Simon and I am a shepherd . I want to tell you the real story of Christmas from what I experienced and saw. It is a story of truth and a miracle that everyone had prayed for. It was a prophecy that was told by the prophets of old and about to be fulfilled..

It was not quite winter, so as usual My friends and I took our sheep to the hillside that overlooked Bethlehem. Oh! How the stars in the heavens shown so brightly. They looked like they had been just polished brightly and were to be a part of a very special occasion. My friends and I were sitting on the hillside watching our sheep and talking . There was Jonathan and his son Aram, who was reaching the age where he would become a man. Then there was Ezra and his brother Josiah. We had t protect our sheep from the wolves and lions that wanted to steal our sheep from us.We always had to be alert and at night we took turns sleeping while the others watched over all the sheep. It was my turn to sleep but Aram shouted and pointed to the sky. Lo and behold in the sky was the brightest star we had ever seen!

Aram asked, "What does it mean?" "I don't know" said Josiah, "but it is shining and hanging directly over that stable over there." He pointed to the hillside on the other side of Bethlehem where there was a cave that was a stable. "I wonder what it all means". Said Benjamin. "I do not know for sure, but the prophets had foretold of a Messiah that would be born in Bethlehem" said Ezra, " but I wonder if this could be the prophecy come true."

We talked about it for a very long time! We prayed that this was so; but we were afraid to state it was. The talk went back to the sheep and shearing season that was coming up and where we were going to sell the extra wool and finding the perfect lamb to sacrifice when Passover came around again. We finally just sat and stared at the star that shone bigger and brighter than all the stars in the heavens over this stable on the other hillside.

Suddenly the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were very afraid. The angel said to them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord; and this shall be a sign to you; You will find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. "Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward Men ! "

Then the angels left us and went back into heaven. We talked amongst ourselves after getting over the amazement and shock that God had sent his angels to us. It was decided that we would go through the City of Bethlehem to the hillside on the outskirts where this stable was and the brightest star in the heavens stood over shining more brightly than ever.

We practically ran as fast as we could. We had trusted the Lord to take care of the Sheep and Ezra, who chose to stay behind to watch the sheep. He said he knew in his heart that the Messiah had been born and if God was willing he would get a chance to see him before he died. Josiah told him that He believed because of his sacrifice, that God would grant that to him.

When we arrived at the stable we found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. We fell on our knees and worshipped Him and be blessed him with a simple shepherd's prayer. We lingered a while longer and saw the three wise men form the east come and lay the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh at the feet of this tiny Messiah that would redeem the world. We couldn't believe how beautiful this child of God's was. We didn't have any fancy gifts to give him, but we could give him a lamb that would grow up with Him and eventually provide Him with the right lamb for the Passover sacrifice. We each gave the Messiah a lamb and prayed that our humble gift would be found worthy for such a King. Then we returned to our flocks, glorifying and praising God for all the things that we had heard and seen, as it was told to us. We were so excited that we couldn't sleep that night if we had wanted to. When we had brought our sheep back home. We went out and told all who would listen to us, the story of this heavenly birth and of a wondrous Messiah that was God's son. Then we made known abroad the saying which was told to us concerning this child.

Jesus had grown into a fine man as the son of a carpenter named Joseph and his blest mother, Mary. Ezra was old by the time he saw Jesus for the first time. I told him where Jesus was and we decided to take the journey to the Capernaum. Ezra was excited but afraid that he would not make it in time to see him. As we approached Capernaum, we saw this tall, slender and talkative young man with a band of men following him along the road.

Jesus stopped in front of us and smiled. I told him my name was Benjamin Bar-Simon and introduced Ezra. I told him about how we had seen him when he was born that night in Bethlehem and that Ezra had stayed behind to watch the sheep. His one wish was to see the Messiah once before he died and Josiah had told him that he would. Jesus smiled a broad smile and told Ezra that he would live another 10 years. He invited us to come and sit for a while and we did. Then he put his hands into Ezra's and blest him. Ezra beamed with joy and happiness and he hugged Jesus. We asked if we could go with Him but he told us that our sheep needed us and reminded us of the 23rd Psalm. He also told us the story of the Good Shepherd as we sat with him under an Olive tree. The time for us to depart and go back to our sheep and for Jesus continue on the mission that God has sent him on. We would see him one more time; but under more tragic and sorrowful circumstances, but that is another story.

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