The Way to Bethlehem

From the Fields

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. Luke 2:8-9

Two groups of worshipers make their way to the Baby but never meet. The first group is nearby shepherds, summoned by an angel. Notice that the shepherds were “living in the fields.” Scholars think that these particular shepherds were not nomads, but were villagers and kept their flocks in the fields during the fallow seasons.

While there is often discontent between shepherds and farmers, the geography of Bethlehem implies that the fields were quite near to the town and the farmers allowed the flocks to stay in the fallow fields because they grazed on the remainder of the grains and fertilized the field for spring planting.

I have often wondered how the shepherds were changed by their visitation to the Child. In fact, I wrote a story about it! You can read “A Star for Zachary” below.

What would have been your reaction to the visit from an angel?

Hi, Readers, I’d like to ask a quick favor. If you’ve enjoyed this post, maybe even learned something from it, would you consider sharing it on your own social media or email or even restacking it here on Substack? I’d appreciate it as I try to spread the realities of adult autism and widowhood!