22

Overcome by joy          

Lucie Spiers

Seeing Shepherds by Daniel Bonnell, 2010

Angels frame Advent, from Gabriel announcing the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah, to his gentle exchange with Mary, but it is now at the birth of Jesus that they return in a multitude.

When I first saw this image, I was drawn to the astonishing arc of the Heavenly Host streaming across the canvas: a ‘rainbow’ of angelic glory. 

But it is the figures of the two shepherds caught up in this unique, transcendent moment that held my gaze: swept up in the whirl of exultation and joy of the angels, faces upturned, arms outstretched. No doubt they were terrified as the sky filled with this throng of celestial beings, but according to Luke’s account of this momentous event they had already heard the angel of the Lord proclaim “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news. It will bring great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord.” They have embraced the ecstasy and wonder of the host in worship on earth; a rare glimpse into heaven to see the angels praising God, hearing their song of His glory and the peace that will reign on earth.

Luke does not explain why the angels sing to these lowly men of the glorious things that God is doing, but the shepherds were not faint-hearted. They were hardy, tough, semi-nomadic men staying with their flocks on the hills in all weathers, protecting them from wild animals and bandits. Unable to follow the purity laws fully, they were not trusted and were regarded as sinners: the same category as tax collectors and prostitutes. How surprising, but significant that God picked a lowly, unassuming audience, marginalized by the social and religious elite, to first hear the joyous news heralding the Messiah’s birth. These shepherds, outcast and rejected by society, must have been so transformed by the angelic excitement that on hearing the message, and inclusivity of “to you is born”, they realise that they too are to be included in the Saviour’s kingdom. They immediately respond and set out in haste to find the child laid in a manger.

Look again at the shepherds in the painting, what indescribable elation they must feel: glorifying and praising God, overcome by heavenly joy.

Can we fully appreciate the excitement experienced by the excluded when a genuine offer of inclusion is presented to them?