The shepherds

Professor Sunanda MAHENDRA

During Christmas I remember a tale, which I heard a several years ago, while I was in Poland.

“This may be a story which you may have heard in your own country,” said the old lady who narrated the tale. Then she added:

“But you may reinterpret in your own terms in the light of new knowledge. I wish to lay down the tale as I heard it. Once in Bethlehem, there lived a family of shepherds. The most senior shepherd was known as Ben-Ezza who looked after his own flock of sheep, and helped to look after the flocks of some of his neighbours. He had two sons named Jonathan and Solomon, who also helped him in turns. The fear of the wolves preying on sheep was so severe that the father and the two sons had to go out to watch the flocks even in thick winter.

The two sons took turns to look after the flocks, as the father looked after them during the day time. Jonathan, the elder son, was watchful for three successive days. On the fourth day as it happened to be a very cold night, he told his mother Rebecca:

“Mum I cannot go today. I feel like staying the night at home. Please ask my brother Solomon to go and look after the sheep.”

“What keeps you from going?” his mother asked.

“I don’t feel well. I must have rest today.”

Then Rebecca called her other son.

“Can you go tonight to look after the sheep, as your brother is not well?”

“I can’t do it mom, for it is his turn, not mine.”

Rebecca pleaded with the younger son.

“I told you mum, I can’t,” son insisted. Right at that moment, there appeared their father Ben, who knew the situation. He too was tired. So he said in a mellow voice.

“From morning I have been watching my flocks of sheep. If a wolf attacks one, I have to answer. As god have blessed you with good health, my good son, please attend to it without a fuss.”

The younger son who was harsh to his mother for a moment felt a sense of responsibility through the words of his father. He took a muffler and wrapped around his neck. Then he took a warm woolen cap to cover his head. He held a lantern in one of his hands and walked out of the house. The mother blessed him good night.

He walked briskly to the place where the other shepherds were meeting and relaxing. All of a sudden Jonathan saw a kid restless and bleating in a painful mood. “Perhaps who knows whether the little one is wounded?” he thought to himself. Then he held the creature in his hands and walked. He placed the little one closer to him. He observed the unusual stillness or the silence of the star-studded night. The stars were twinkling. He sensed a certain change around him. He once again felt sorry for disobeying the mother. He knelt down and prayed saying that he would never disobey his mother.

After the prayers, he opened his eyes and looked at the sky. All of a sudden there appeared a glorious bright light in the sky. He had never seen such a glory. He found the entire vast area flooded with a bright light. Then he saw a single bright star in the sky. He, in surprise, called the other shepherds.

“Wake up and see that,” he said.

The fellow shepherds looked at the sky in amazement. A melodious sound of music floated in the vast area. Some shepherds were stunned, while others said it is a miracle. Suddenly an angel appeared. She said: “Don’t be afraid! You may know that a saviour is born to the earth. He is called Christ. You will see this baby Christ lying in a manger.”

Then some angels too appeared. They all started singing praises to god. When the music faded off the shepherds spoke among themselves:

“Let’s go and see the baby Christ, our saviour, as the angels declared:”

The son who disobeyed and repented over his action, took the little lamb in his hands walked with other shepherds, in search of the baby Christ, in the manger. The long walk ended when they came close to a manger when the baby Christ was seen with his Mother Mary.

“This is really a divine baby,” thought the son. “I must go home soon and inform my family,” he thought, “I must ask my sick brother to come and see the divine baby and be headed.”

By now the other fellow mates, the shepherds had venerated the divine baby, and were about to leave the place. They wanted to spread the good news to their family members. During the early hours of the morning, he ran home leaving the lamb, with the intention of returning to the same place.

He ran swiftly to his home and informed the father, mother and his brother about what he discovered. They who were asleep got up, and hurried to the place where the divine child stayed with her mother.

“Oh divine mother,” the son said, “it was I who came with the lamb and this is my family. My brother is not well. Can you help him?”

“Yes certainly, ask my divine child who he wants.” They all touched the tender feet of the divine child.”

“I am completely healed,” said the brother who was not well.

“Thank you divine mother,” said all of them.

So this is the tale as told by an elderly Polish lady. As she added later I wish to use her own words.

“Now you may interpret it in the way you need.”