Artwork:
Adoration of the Shepherds, Michelangelo Merisi, commonly known as Caravaggio (1609), is an oil on canvas painting. Housed in the Interdisciplinary Regional Museum of Messina, Sicily, Italy. Caravaggio depicts the focal point of the scene with Mary holding her baby peacefully in the center. All three shepherds, as well as Joseph identified by a faint halo, look on with amazement and complete adoration at this infant child born in a barn.

Advent Devotional

Shepherding is the first profession mentioned in the Bible – “Abel was a keeper of sheep…” (Genesis 4:2). It was dangerous work that required finding grass and water for the flock, restoring those that strayed, and protecting the flock from predators. Shepherds’ reward for their difficult work was to be viewed as society’s outsiders. Considered ceremonially unclean, they were not allowed into the Temple courts to worship. Their character was so suspect that their testimony was inadmissible in court. Yet this carol reminds us Christ has a way of inverting the world’s social order so that sometimes the world’s outsiders are selected as God’s insiders.

Shepherds, who were not allowed to give evidence in court, were one of the first to receive the history altering news that, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” A few verses later St. Luke tells us that the shepherds took this information and, “they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” Those who could not be trusted to give accurate testimony in court were now providing testimony that amazed listeners.

Both the words and music of this carol have regal lineage. The melody was adapted from master composer George Frederick Handel. The words were composed by Nahum Tate, who was appointed Poet Laureate of England during the reign of William and Mary. The words from his carol still provide amazing testimony that born on this day is, “The Savior who is Christ the Lord.”

Prayer

Thank You God
that You reach out to
outsiders and outcasts
and make them heralds of
Your mercy and grace.