路加寫福音是為了社會上的弱勢社群。在有關耶穌誕生的眾多材料之中，他並不像瑪竇一樣，選擇發生在宮廷裡的鬥爭故事。路加沒有選擇珍貴的貢品，沒有屠殺無辜嬰兒等的細節。因為這一切，表達不了天主對弱勢社群的慈悲。
當時社會上的弱勢社群在哪？在最不方便的時候仍被迫返回故鄉做戶籍登記的若瑟夫婦身上；在沒有客棧收留，要在馬槽分娩的瑪利亞身上；當然還有在夜間仍留在郊外看羊的牧羊人。在城外生活和勞動，牧羊人的確是被社會邊緣化的代表。路加就是要告訴我們，天主怎樣對這些人慈悲，「向貧窮人傳報喜訊。」
在夜間見到了發光的天使，這是天主送給牧羊人的禮物。這份禮物好比瑪竇福音中，引領賢士找到耶穌的「白冷之星」。這份經歷，的確令牧羊人（和瑪竇福音中的賢士）萬分鼓舞。在以後的晚上，牧羊人可能會不斷期望天使，再度出現。縱使不再出現，他們也會感到心滿意足，因為一定有天使在附近，守護他們。這份經歷不是每個人都可以有的，祗有他們纔有。這是一份獨特的天賜經驗。這些牧羊人真令人羨慕。
天使所言非虛，真的有一個嬰兒誕生在馬槽！更震撼的是，救世主竟然是一個躺在馬槽的嬰兒！牧羊人為了所見所聞而作見証，礙於種種原因，未必有人會理會他們；但肯聽他們作証的，一定會受到他們的感染，他們的鼓舞。
天父，在新一年的開始，讓我們在未來一整年，好像牧羊人一樣，不計較得失，把祢的慈悲，傳揚開去。亞孟。
THE EXPERIENCE OF THE SHEPHERDS (Luke 2:16-21)
Luke wrote his gospel for the socially disadvantaged. Among the many materials about the birth of Jesus, Luke did not choose like Matthew who amassed palatial conflicts in the nativity story of Jesus. In Luke, there were no precious gifts and no massacre of innocent infants etc. All these could not demonstrate God's mercy to the underprivileged.
At that time, where could we find the socially disadvantaged? It was among those who were forced to return to their home town at the most inconvenient time for census such as Joseph and his wife; Mary who had to give birth to her baby and lay it in a manger because there was no room in the inn; and of course shepherds who were forced to stay outside the city to keep watch of the sheep at night. Living and labouring outside the city, shepherds were truly the representatives of those socially marginalized. Luke tried to tell us how God showed mercy to these people, "to proclaim the good news to the poor."
Shining angels that appeared at night was the gift God gave these shepherds. This gift was similar to the "Star of Bethlehem" which led the Magi to find Jesus. This experience was truly encouraging for the shepherds (and the Magi in Matthew as well). Every night after this, the shepherds might expect the angels to appear again. Even if they did not, the shepherds would rest assured because there must be an angel somewhere around, guarding them. Not everyone can have this experience which was unique to the shepherds. This is an extraordinary, Godsend experience. The shepherds were admirable.
The words of angels were real. There was really a baby born in the manger! Even more shocking was that such a baby lying in a manger could be the Saviour of the world. The shepherds had done their part in bearing witness. For various reasons, many people might not bother to listen to them. But for those who cared to listen, they could be touched and encouraged by them.
Heavenly Father, at the beginning of a year and the remaining, let us spread Your mercy, like the shepherds, not caring about the success. Amen.
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