“When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. 18 All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. 19 And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. 21 When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.”
Shepherds had great symbolic value in the OT (Psalm 23). The shepherds went to Bethlehem and found and found the ‘sign’ exactly as the angel of the Lord had told them (v. 12). The shepherds told Mary and Joseph what the angel had told them – that the infant was Messiah and Lord (v. 11). This compliments what the angel Gabriel had told Mary (Lk. 1:31-33), what Mary said while in the Spirit (Lk. 1:68-79), and what Zechariah said while in the Spirit (Lk. 1:68-79). Mary did not fully understand the meaning of what was going to unfold and the significance of God’s action. The shepherds on hearing the good news responded with joy.
As devout Jews, Mary and Joseph followed the Mosaic Law and had Jesus circumcised just as John the Baptist was circumcised. Circumcision was a requirement of God’s covenant with Abraham in order to become a member of God’s chosen people (Gen. 17:9-10). Salvation came through God’s chosen people. Obedience to the Law was also a requirement for salvation. (Mt. 5:17-18). The infant was given the name Jesus, God saves.
Almighty God, Grant that through your grace we will not be weighed down by slavery to sin but be set free by the birth and saving action of your only Begotten Son. Show us how to serve you and give us the fortitude to obey your will. This we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!
References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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