"The Weekly Word"

Weekly Word, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 Edition

And there were shepherds out in the fields keeping watch over their flock at night.
Luke 2:8

It’s interesting, remarkably interesting to think about who the shepherds were. These were diligent workers, laborers, lowly people, forgotten people. Society really disregarded them as even “ordinary” people. They were just ones that took care of the farm, they were the carers of the field, the bearers of the animals. Shepherds kept their heads down, and their legs moving. Many would have called them the slaves of this timed period.

So, I wonder, friends, how would we view the shepherds today. Would we treat them with respect? Would we realize their hard work was important? Would we recognize that, without their hard work, we would not be able to enjoy what we enjoy.

Who are today’s shepherds anyway? Some would say the trash collectors, the mail carriers, the first responders. We’re ready to complain when they aren’t doing their work, but we never give them praise or thanks for doing it.

That, I have a feeling, is the life the shepherds lived. They were people who heard when they were doing something wrong, and extraordinarily little were praised for their hard, manual efforts.

So, on this day, this Advent season, I wonder if we could take time to give thanks to those people we may take for granted. Maybe leave a tip for the mail carriers or the trash collectors, the people that bring things to your house without expecting anything.

Let’s honor those shepherds of today, for us to remember the shepherds long ago whom the angels appeared to, and who were some of the first to experience the warmth and light of the coming king!

May we together as we say, Emanuel, God is truly with us, show today’s shepherds in our lives that true reality. May we show our love even to those others may not love or even acknowledge. By doing so, we just might help the stable warmth and light from long ago of Jesus continue to spread even now!

To God be the glory

Pastor Brandon