Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
God shall have compassion on the lowly and poor;
and shall preserve the lives of the needy.
Psalm 72:13
As I brace myself against the cold, I think of all those who work outside. And those who do not have adequate warm clothing. And the shepherds. While the Bethlehem of Jesus’ time was not as cold as New Jersey today, still, those who watched their flocks by night needed warmth.
And who are the shepherds of today? Who are those who tend others, without much compensation? Those who watch long hours for the one moment when danger arises and their quick action saves lives? Those whose jobs are ordinary and overlooked and vital?
What would that manger scene look like, with all those shepherds gathered round?
Come, Jesus.
