December 6, 2009: Here Come the Gypsies – Michael Hidalgo

There are people in this world that most want to associate from. Likewise there are the people in this world that many people want to disassociate from. In 1st Century Palestine the latter group were the shepherds. Philo spoke of them with disdain. The Babylonian Talmud speaks of their uncleanliness – hence inability to stand before God. 

 

Yet, this is the group of people that first learn of the good news of Jesus’ birth. This is not insignificant. This is actually amazing. The reality is that the shepherds are the first evangelizers … the first to take the good news of Jesus into the surrounding towns. They were called thieves and brigands yet they go and tell the people what they have heard, and they end up praising God for it. 

 

Typically when a gospel of a Caesar was pronounced there was a massive festival and tons of VIP parties – for the wealthy and the elite. The only reason it was announced to everyone is because Caesar demanded tribute – which was a tax. Caesar’s gospel was about him getting rich. Jesus’ gospel was about others having hope. Caesar took. Jesus gave.