St. Luke's story of "shepherds in the fields keeping watch over their flocks by night" echoes in the hearts and minds of millions who have heard the story told and retold year after year.
Like most well-loved tales, the account of the shepherds has grown and developed over the ages. Extra traditions have attached themselves to it. Charming characters and details have become part of the story. Beautiful preaching points have illuminated the tale and unlocked the story's deeper meanings. Many of these "extras," however, were conditioned by later cultural assumptions and colored by devotions removed from historical reality.
What are the true circumstances of the birth of Jesus Christ? What was Bethlehem like at the time of Jesus' birth? How did Joseph and Mary meet, and why did they travel to Bethlehem? Who were the shepherds, and why were they so important?
After completing The Mystery of the Magi—his study of the wise men—Fr. Dwight Longenecker took a sabbatical in Jerusalem to study the ancient texts and the geography, history, politics, and culture. He added his own firsthand visit to present-day Bethlehem shepherds in order to unlock "the secret of the Bethlehem shepherds."
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