Last
week, the second Saturday of Advent, we focused on The Bethlehem Candle, which
is also known as the Candle of Preparation. This second candle is also purple
and its colour reminds us that Jesus is the King of kings. Furthermore, the 2nd
week of Advent addresses the crucial preparations surrounding Jesus' birth as
well as the preparations we make in our hearts and homes to celebrate His
nativity.
Today,
the 3rd Saturday of Advent, we will consider "The Shepherds' Candle"
(the only pink candle in the wreath), which is also known as "The Candle
of Joy". The story of the shepherds is one that we have heard for many
years. It is a narrative that is marked by the joy they experienced on that
night, which they shared with everyone they encountered. However, there are
other aspects of that account that I saw in a different light this season. As I
contemplated the shepherds' situation, I couldn't help but think of the
American reality TV show, "Undercover Boss". In this show, powerful
business CEOs (chief executive officers, who are responsible for managerial
decisions for their companies) step outside their comfort zones (i.e., their
offices), wear a disguise, and enter the world of their employees' low-level
job experiences. Hidden cameras are utilized to capture the reactions of the CEOs'
experiences and their interactions with the unsuspecting employees. The CEOs
learn about the daily operations of their organizations. As they engage in this
undercover mission, they learn how their companies are viewed by their
employees, acquire first-hand knowledge of employee attitudes, and they often
learn something about themselves in the process.
What
does "Undercover Boss" have to do with the Shepherds' Candle? Jesus
also engaged in an undercover mission. Christ left the splendour and glory of heaven--stepped
outside His comfort zone, so to speak--to enter the world of His people. There
were no hidden cameras, but the all-seeing eye of God was very attentive to the
views the people had of Him, as well as their attitudes towards Him. And, where
did The Good Shepherd (John 10:11)--the CEO of shepherds,--show up? Disguised
as a little baby boy, wrapped in strips of cloths, born to Mary and Joseph, in
an unassuming place--not in a room in an inn nor in the room of a palace or
stately manor but in a place that housed livestock. In fact, after He was born,
Jesus' bed was a manger--the livestock's feeding trough. It was a great
disguise that nobody, except Mary and Joseph, would have seen through...UNLESS,
God divulged the truth. Yet, when He did, many still did not recognize that the
Messiah was in the thick of things with His people, and they didn't accept Him
(John 1:11).
So,
it is quite amazing that the shepherds were the first recipients of the birth
announcement of The Good Shepherd. And what a fantastic announcement that must
have been! The shepherds were following their regular routine of attending to
their sheep. Suddenly,an angel of God appeared, with light that pierced the
darkness and lit up the night sky. Their reaction was normal: they were
terrified! However,the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I am bringing you
good news that will be a great joy to all the people....Then a very large group
of angels from heaven joined the first angel...,” (Luke 2:9, 13). If one angel
showing up in the dark night sky was terrifying, I wonder if there is even a
word to describe how they felt when "a very large group of angels joined
the first angel"?!
The
shepherds must have had mixed reactions when they observed this celestial
event. Many of us become very excited when we anticipate observing, with our
own eyes, a celestial light show (e.g., a meteorite shower, the Northern
Lights, or a shooting star). Imagine how spectacular the 'light show'
experienced by the shepherds on that night so long ago! I wonder, though, how
many of us would have gotten excited if we had experienced the visitation of
angels in the same manner that the shepherds did--"suddenly" or
unexpectedly? Would we have also been terrified and trembling like the
shepherds? Do you suppose that the angel's admonition to not be afraid would
have calmed our rapidly-beating hearts and our shaky bodies?
Although
we don't know the precise effect the angel's words had on the shepherds, we can
conclude that they must have calmed down enough to hear the life-changing
message: "Today your Savior was born in the town of David...," (Luke
2: 11-15). Like the birth announcements we send out, this one included the time
and place. Information was also given to make sure they found the right
location and the right baby--the signs of Emanuel's birth--much like we would
tie balloons to our mail boxes to let everyone know we are celebrating new life
in our families. There were no balloons, but there was a large shiny star, and
the shepherds followed the directions, "This will be a sign to you: You
will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger,”(Luke 2: 12).
Thus,
we can deduce that the shepherds were attentive to the birth announcement,
which is evidenced by their actions: they immediately left what they were
doing, hurried to Bethlehem (King David's town)., located Mary, Joseph, and the
baby Jesus,their Messiah, and worshiped Him. What a paradox, that the common
shepherds were chosen to witness the beginnings of the Good Shepherd and to
share that experience with everyone they met. They were so excited and in awe
by what they had witnessed (i.e., the birth announcement and actually seeing
the Messiah for themselves), that on the return trip from Bethlehem, they told
the Good News to everyone they met! A remarkable truth: God uses people from
all walks of life to spread the Good News of His Son with others.
Challenge:
Do
we still have the same excitement and sense of awe as we did when we first
became Christians? Do we still share our experience of encountering Jesus and
the difference that He makes in our lives? Are we filled with joy, which
attracts others to Him in us? Or are we grumpy and prone to complaining?
These are some of the important reflections we need to consider this Advent
season--and to determine what changes we need to make in our lives in order for
the Light of the World to be reflected in us. May the joy of the season be
experienced and shared:
Joy
to the world! The Lord is come: let earth receive her King!
Let
every heart prepare him room and heaven and nature sing.
Joy
to the earth! the Saviour reigns:let men their songs employ
while
fields and floods rocks hills and plains repeat the sounding joy.
No
more let sins and sorrows grow nor thorns infest the ground:
He
comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found.
He
rules the earth with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories
of his righteousness and wonders of his love!
Suggested
Daily Scripture Readings:
Sunday,
December 14/14 The Birth of Jesus Luke 2: 1-7
Monday,
December 15/14 The Shepherds Hear Jesus' Birth Announcement Luke 2:
8-14
Tuesday,
December 16/14 The Shepherd Hurry to Bethlehem Luke 2:15-20
Wednesday,
December 17/14 A Song of Joy and Praise Isaiah 12:2-6
Thursday,
December 18/14 We are Filled with Great Joy 1 Peter 1:8
Friday,
December 19/14 This is the Day God has Made Psalm 118:24
Saturday,
December 20/14 Rejoice in the Lord Philippians 4:4-7
Elizabeth Hayduk
Former Officer, CanadaC
hristmas music making from the Salvation Army Canada
Elizabeth HaydukFormer Officer, CanadaC
hristmas music making from the Salvation Army Canada
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