"...they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (Matthew
9:36)
"Now there was in the same country shepherds living out in the fields,
keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold an Angel of the Lord
stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were
greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there
is born to you this day in the City of David a Savior who is Christ the
Lord....So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into Heaven, that
the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go and see this thing that has
come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us...Now when they (the
shepherds) had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told
them concerning this Child."
(Luke 2: 8-17)
The angels announced the miraculous and wondrous birth of the Lord Jesus
Christ to lowly and simple shepherds in a field watching over their sheep.
This glorious announcement was not made to the richest of kings or the
esteemed high priests. These mere lowly shepherds would be the first to hear
of His birth and the first to share the message of His salvation with
others. And the Lord Jesus Christ Himself would come to be called the
"Shepherd of Shepherds." What was the significance of announcing the
reconciliation of humanity to God and people to each other beginning with
the shepherds in the Holy Gospel of St. Luke? What important connotations do
sheep and shepherds illustrate in Holy Scripture to hold such great
importance at the Glorious Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Sheep are
perhaps the most important animal in the Holy Bible as they are
mentioned over 400 hundred times. Their meat was eaten at sacrificial meals
and their milk drank usually in the form of curds. Sheepskin was used for
clothing and the ram's horns utilized for musical instruments (Joshua 6:4)
and oil containers (I Samuel 16:1). Goats also provided milk and skins.
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Shepherding a flock of sheep and goats meant moving their flocks to new
pastures in search of sustenance, ensuring an abundant and clean water
supply, and constantly seeking out the lost. The shepherd's responsibilities
further included guarding the sheep from the attacks of predators and wild
animals such as bears, lions, and wolves often placing their own lives in
danger to protect their flocks.
Shepherding a flock was not the most glorious of occupations and may perhaps
have even been frowned upon by more civilized populations. Evidence of this
may be found in the Holy Book of Genesis 46:32-34: "...And the men are
shepherds, for they have been keepers of cattle; and they have brought their
flocks, and their herds, and all that they have. When Pharaoh calls you and
says, 'What is your occupation?' you shall say, 'Your servants have been
keepers of cattle from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,'
in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an
abomination to the Egyptians."
The prophets Moses, David, and Amos all worked as shepherds during some part
of their lifetime. The Hebrew founding fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were
shepherds. Jacob upon his migration to Egypt and his representatives were
brought before pharaoh they described their occupation by saying to the
monarch, "Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers."
(Genesis 47:3)
King David was a shepherd as a young boy. A Psalm said of David the shepherd
who became David the King, "He chose also his servant, and took him from the
sheepfolds: From following the ewes' great with young he brought him to feed
Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to
the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his
hands." (Psalm 78:70-72)
King David in his rejoicing and wisdom wrote that the Lord was his Shepherd
in the 23rd Psalm also known as the Sacramental Psalm. "The Lord is my
Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures."
(Psalm 23:1-2) David the Prophet believed with the Lord as our True Shepherd
we are not lacking. He will take care of us, manage our lives, and make it
beneficial and fruitful in much the same manner only greater than the Old
Testament shepherds cared for and nurtured their sheep.
The welfare of the flock was entirely dependent upon the management afforded
them by their shepherd. But the words of David the Prophet seem to imply a
deeper meaning than simply "not lacking." They mean contentment. We do not
desire anything more in our lives than the Lord Jesus Christ. In the New
Testament the Lord Jesus Christ reiterated this when He said to the rich
young ruler who wished to become His follower, "Go thy way, sell whatsoever
thou hast and give to the poor...and come...follow Me." (Mark 10:21)
St. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195) wrote, "Christ admonished the rich man to
leave his busy life and to cleave to One, adhering to the grace of Him who
offered everlasting life."
The social behavior of sheep is such that they will not lie down until they
are free of all fear, are at peace with each other, are free from
pestilence, and are free of hunger. The shepherd must provide these things
for his flock to enable them to lie down in green pastures. The shepherd
realizes that anxiety ridden flocks will not do well and will exhibit
agitation, discontent, and restlessness.
David would know these behaviors from his experience in watching his flocks
and inferred this in the 23rd Psalm. Perhaps this is another reason the
metaphor of shepherd is so often used as a sustainer of life.
The 23rd Psalm makes mention of water (baptism) in verse 2. "He leads me
beside the still waters, He restores my soul." This still water, is the pure
baptismal water that alone can satisfy His sheep, quince their thirst, and
restores their soul. The Eucharist is identified, in verse 5 "You prepare a
table before me in the presence of my enemies." In Verse 5 also is reference
to Chrismation, "You anoint my head with oil." Therefore the 23rd Psalm is
commonly called the "The Lord the Shepherd of His People" and "The
Sacramental Psalm."
The 23rd Psalm is recited during the altar consecration. The consecration of
the altar, representing the self-sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ (the
True Shepherd of Shepherds), actually begins with the 23rd Psalm. The altar
is the sacramental green pasture for the flock of the church through which
we meet our Good Shepherd, upon which the church life flourishes, partaking
of His sacrificial body and blood. This Psalm speaks to Baptism,
Chrismation, and Eucharist as the Shepherd's Holy and Divine gifts to His
rational sheep.
St. Ambrose stated, "The law instructs, history informs, prophecy predicts,
corruption censures, and morals exhort. In the Book of Psalms you will find
the fruit of all these, as well as a remedy for the salvation of the soul.
The Psalter deserves to be called, the praise of God, the glory of man, the
voice of the church, and the most beneficial confession of faith."
The Lord Jesus Christ was born in humbleness and would grow in His humanity
to exhibit meekness, patience, and submission to the Father, just as the
sheep exhibits to their shepherd. The relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ
is the same as that demonstrated by the shepherd to its flocks. The Lord
Jesus Christ would grow in spirit and truth and be the Shepherd of Shepherds
not seeing His flock as sinners to be condemned as the Jewish leaders of His
day who acted as wolves among the sheep, but viewed sinners as harassed,
helpless and lost sheep to be found and brought back safely home.
In the Holy Gospel of St. John, chapter 10 the Lord Jesus Christ uses a
parable illustrating salvation with the symbolism of a shepherd and his
sheep. In verse 7, the Lord Jesus Christ calls Himself the Shepherd or
"Door." "...Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the Door of the sheep." The
Lord is saying no one can enter the door except by way of Him.
In the Holy Gospel of St. John, the Lord Jesus Christ describes His
relationship to the believers who followed His teachings, "I am the Good
Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep" (John 10:11).
The Good Shepherd and those under the Good Shepherd's direction will look
after the sheep even to the point of giving their lives for the sheep.
In conclusion, the Lord Jesus Christ was not born within a royal palace, but
within humble surroundings in a manger. His birth would be announced to
lowly shepherds that sought Him out. He did not force His birth upon us. He
did not coerce His way into our lives after His Holy birth. Rather He led
the way to eternal salvation for those who would but follow. He
compassionately taught through parables, miracles, and personal sacrifice
introducing Christianity into sinful and troubled hearts. He was The
Shepherd who went ahead of His sheep. He did not drive them from behind. He
led them beside that which was good away from danger and sin. His birth
would restore the soul of all and His earthly ministry would guide the
obedient toward eternal righteousness. His birth would revitalize our souls
and in times of darkness and trouble He will offer consolation to all the
faithful. The Holy birth of the Shepherd of Shepherds would be the door
which would permit us to enter and dwell in the House of the Lord forever.
May the Shepherd of Shepherds birth renew His contentment in us all.
H.G. Bishop Youssef
Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
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