The Lord Appears to Outcasts – The Epiphany: Luke 2

The Lord Appears to the Outcasts – The Epiphany: Luke 2

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. –Luke 2:8-9

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Shepherds are prevalent figures in biblical history. They performed an important task since the lambs were sacrificial animals. But even though their service was important to the religious system, they were outcasts. They did not have many social contacts, were comsidered rough and unclean, and lived outside the towns and cities.

Despite being religious and social outcasts, it is to the shepherds that God chooses to make a special announcement. It is this group that first hears the core message of Christianity. It is a reminder that the Gospel is for all people and that it is the humble and lowly who are able to hear this simple message of our faith: God loves, so God gives.

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Ask God to remind you to stay humble and open His His Word so you can meet Him in all of your brothers and sisters, especially in “the least” of them.