“No,” she said. “Something special has happened here tonight and just to be a part of it is payment enough.”
“But you must take something,” Joseph insisted. He went to one of their bundles and dug out a small wooden box. It was made of cedar and intricately carved, the best that his hands could produce. “Here, take this,” he told the woman. Reluctantly she put the box in her bag and set off in the direction of her home. In the light that shone from the front of the stable, Joseph could see her turn and look back over her shoulder several times before she disappeared in the darkness.
Mary and Joseph put the baby to sleep in the manger on the fresh straw and settled down themselves. Since they were both very tired, they were soon asleep. Joseph didn’t know how much later he awakened, but it was still dark outside. He had been aroused from his sleep by some noise outside the stable. He crept cautiously to the door and looked out. Several men were standing outside talking among themselves, but Joseph could not hear what they were saying. From the way they were dressed and the staffs they carried; he knew they were shepherds. One of them, who seemed to be the leader, approached the door. Joseph, hidden in the shadows called out, “What do you want?”
The man, obviously startled, stopped and stammered out, “We have come looking for the child. Is this the place? Is he here?”
“What child,” Joseph demanded, “what are you talking about?”
“Well,” the shepherd began slowly, “this may sound very strange, and I wouldn’t blame you if you thought we were crazy. I wouldn’t have believed it myself if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. My brothers and I were out with our sheep, just like always. We were gathered around the fire and talking about where we should take the sheep in the morning. The pasture is getting sparse, and we need to move them. All of a sudden, the whole camp was lit up by a light that was as bright as the sun. Let me tell you, we were terrified! But then the angel of the Lord appeared. He told us not to be afraid because he brought good news that was to be for all people. He told us that the Messiah had been born here in the city and that as a sign for us; we would find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Then there seemed to be many angels with him, and they were singing and praising God. They sang ‘Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace!’ As suddenly as they had come, they were gone, and we decided to come into the city to look for the baby the angel had told us about. Have we come to the right place?”
“Joseph, what is it?” Mary’s voice came from behind him.
“There are shepherds here,” he said. “They claim that the angel of the Lord told them about the baby. They want to see him.”
Mary looked a little puzzled, but she said, “Of course, let them come in.”
Joseph led them back to the stall where the child lay sleeping. When they saw him, they just stood looking on in awed silence. Finally, one of them said, “The Messiah! He has finally come, and we have seen it. Praise the Lord for this wonderful day! What is his name?”
“Jesus,” was Mary’s reply.
By the time the shepherds left the sky was beginning to lighten with the rising of the sun. As they made their way back to their flock, they talked to everyone they met and told them of the visit of the angels and
Unity Lodge No. 146 