Popularity

Popularity is something most of us at least thought about growing up. We may have been in the “in” group or the “out” group or somewhere “in between in and out.” But at some point in time, we could have “felt” the pressure of climbing higher toward the “in” group. Isn't higher better?

Popularity is the quality of being well liked and having a lot of friends and admirers. I guess when we think back to Jesus’ day, the folks who would have been in the “out” group would have been the shepherds. You would not describe shepherds as the “popular” people.

In fact, they were the least likely people to be included in the Christmas story, simply because they would be the ones who would feel excluded. Shepherding was a big business in Bethlehem, but the shepherds were seen as ceremonially unclean. They were outcasts of their day. And do you know what? They smelled like sheep! Did I forget to mention that being popular meant that you probably smelled good?

So, in Luke 2:8-12, 15 it says: “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger”……When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So, off the shepherds went into town to verify the news they had heard and share it with others. These humble, lowly, rejected, stinky and unclean shepherds were right in the center of the Christmas story! Their first response after seeing the angel was fear! Sure enough, most of us would be filled with great fear when faced with the unknown. But in time, the shepherds were filled with peace and couldn’t wait to go and see! Just think....God chose the unpopular shepherds to see Jesus first and tell others.

Have you felt rejected? Outcast? Less than? I certainly have! But, you know what? I celebrate that God came for all of us. Lowly. Rejected. Stinky. Unclean. Let’s be like the shepherds and never get over Christmas. Jesus gave up heaven to be born as a baby… for us.

“You must have the same attitude that Jesus Christ had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges, he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.