A Shepherd's Christmas Story by K. Denise Holmberg

Shepherds and Angels

Aaron jerked to his feet. “Lo, what is that light in the night sky?”

Samuel looked at me anxiously. “Yes, what is it Micah?” he said. 

A single star sat on high above the small village of Bethlehem. It was so bright it was unnatural.   

"It's nothing," I lied. I shuddered and felt for the dagger at my side. I knew it was an omen ... a sign of something to come ... good or evil.

But this was the first time my young cousins had charge over their flocks. I didn't want to scare them. I wanted them to love their occupation and their new abode. Even if these isolated pastoral fields would sometimes keep them in loneliness.

Samuel was stout in heart and limb and more watchful than most. He was much like me that way. Aaron was thin, but strong and tall with a keen mind. He would have been more suited for the priesthood, but his father’s sheep needed a shepherd. They both held a strong hold on my affections.

We sat down by fireside and I pulled out a loaf of barley bread. I tore off a piece for myself and passed it on to Aaron. Samuel handed us sweet smelling onions and salty olives. We all kept a watchful eye on the eerie light in the sky.

Then swift and silent before us appeared a being that seemed to be standing on air over our heads. With it was a great cloud of intolerable brilliance. I lifted up my head and looked. There was what appeared to be a man, except his face was like lightening, his eyes were aflame, and his limbs gleamed like bronze.

A few feet away I saw Samuel reach for his sling and stone, his hand trembled. Aaron froze, but managed a choked gasp. Slowly and carefully I stood to my feet, dagger in hand. I wanted to be strong for my youthful kin, but I was so frightened. I took a step backwards.

“Do not be afraid, Micah,” the being said to me. His voice was like the sound of a mighty assembly. “I am an angel of God and have brought good news of great joy. Today in the town of Bethlehem a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. You will find the babe wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

I dropped the knife and fell to my knees as a great host of these angels appeared before us. In unison they sang out, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

The night became still and gentle again. Samuel, Aaron and I were facedown in the field. “Micah,” Samuel said thickly, “he called you by name.” We cautiously rose up and sat near each other.

“It was a thing a beauty,” Aaron said softly. Then he recited Holy Scripture from my namesake, Micah the prophet. “But you, Bethlehem, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth the One to be ruler in Israel.”

Samuel nodded and quoted the prophet Isaiah, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign, behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

We were on our feet when I added from Isaiah’s words, “For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given. And the government will be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

“The Messiah,” Aaron whispered. I turned my head to look at him. He appeared awestruck.

We grabbed our staffs and left our sheep to find the one born this day in the City of David, Bethlehem. The little town on the hill that looked like a jewel with the bright star above it.

***

We could hear normal voices of people as we rushed up the hillside towards the village. The crowds there seemed unexcited. People were passing by us, like they hadn’t seen what we saw, or like they hadn’t noticed.

They looked at us like we had swallowed much wine. “I don’t know what you speak of,” one man said glowering. His small, dark eyes darted between us.

“The Messiah? Born here … today?” laughed another through rotten teeth and foul breath I could smell. “Angels singing in the fields!” he snorted then bent forward laughing.

“The Messiah announced to shepherds who are no better than dung sweepers and tax collectors? Move along you fools,” said a third man with a viscous backhand raised and ready to strike.

“I did hear of a new babe born today,” said a young woman passing by carrying a water jug on her shoulder. Two small children followed close behind her. “A boy. His mother’s name is Mary. You’ll find them just that way.” She nodded towards the other end of the village.

We thanked her and pressed on and found the place where Mary had given birth. It was a cave dug from soft limestone under a guesthouse, like a cellar. Prized animals were usually kept there. In that manger, in a feed trough, lying on fresh, soft hay was my Savior-King. 

We told Mary all that had happened to us that evening in the fields. She bowed her head and sat quietly for some time, like she was pondering all that we had said. Then she lifted her son, wrapped his swaddling clothes tight around him, and laid the babe in my arms.

He took my breath away. He smelled sweet and fresh and glorious. He was as beautiful as his mother. There was no doubt he favored her. They had the same nose and mouth. But his eyes … they were deep and mystical and cut to my very soul. The Son of God had his father’s eyes. “Immanuel,” I said surely. “God is with us.”

***

We returned to our flocks using the light from the wonderful star. “Why me, Micah?” Aaron said. “Why us? There is nothing to commend us. There is no station lower than ours. We are insignificant.”

“It is a humble surprise,” Samuel said. “How could we have been chosen to hear the news first?”

I sat down by the fire wearing a smile I could not rid myself of. “This is King David’s city, and it was David who wrote, ‘the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.'”

“He restores my soul,” Aaron said. “He leads me in the paths of righteousness. For his name’s sake.”

“Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,” added Samuel. “For you are with me. Your rod and staff,” he said and lifted his staff into the air, “they comfort me.”

“He was the shepherd to a king!” I said proudly. “He’s one of us.”

We vowed to never stop telling our story, unbelievable as it was with strange events of angelic light that blazed to life. A message, revealed to men who care for sheep, which had not been heard since the days of Isaiah.

***

Merry Christmas!

KDH