Candy canes are omnipresent at this time of year, whether they're decorating Christmas trees, tucked into stockings, or handed out by Santas at the mall. But where did this delicious seasonal treat come from? According to one legend, the choirmaster of a German cathedral in the 17th century passed out sticks of sugar candy bent into the shape of shepherd's crooks to keep noisy youngsters occupied during Christmas services. More than 300 years later, candy canes are still a hit!
Shepherds, of course, are found throughout the Bible and in Christian imagery. The word "pastor" comes from the Latin pastorem, "to shepherd." Perhaps the most famous of all the psalms, Psalm 23 begins, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul...your rod and your staff -- they comfort me" (Psalm 23:1-4).
Jesus himself calls himself a shepherd in the Gospel of John, saying,
"I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd." (John 10:14-16)
This week's lectionary texts offer further reflection on the idea of relating God to a shepherd. As the prophet Micah exclaims, Bethlehem -- previously an unremarkable, small town -- would be the birthplace of the new ruler of Israel. Micah writes, "And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace" (Micah 4:4-5).
Meanwhile, the psalmist also utilizes the imagery of a shepherd to pray for the restoration of God's people. "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel," he pleads, "you who lead Joseph like a flock!" (Psalm 80:1). Unlike in Micah's triumphant prophecy, the psalmist is expressing dismay: dismay that he and his people are "the scorn of our neighbors" (Psalm 80:6).
It seems that the psalmist is incredibly frustrated -- his people are in need of guidance and protection. That is, they are in need of a shepherd: someone to lead them through the harsh challenges of life and bring them lasting peace.
In Luke's gospel, the shepherds are the first to hear the glad tidings of the birth of Jesus. And Jesus, as previously noted, called himself a shepherd. So we can sometimes forget that shepherds were not exactly highly regarded in ancient times. They were often viewed as rough and dirty; they were constantly on the move and didn't have much money. Their lives revolved around their flocks.
At first glance, then, it might seem strange for Christianity to associate God with a shepherd. Surely, the creator of the universe ought not be compared to someone as seemingly unsophisticated as a person who herds sheep for a living? But the God we worship is all about overturning expectations and rooting for the underdog -- Jesus stands up for the oppressed and the powerless.
As Mary elucidates in Luke, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior...[God] has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty" (Luke 1:46, 52-53).
We live in a society where independence and individualism are highly prized. It can be hard to think that perhaps we are indeed in need of the guidance of a shepherd -- someone to show us the way when we feel uncertain, or to watch over us when we feel afraid. And God has certainly gifted us with free will, unique personalities, and the ability to create our own triumphs and make our own mistakes. But this Advent, let us also consider how wonderful it is that God is so full of surprises -- assuming and transforming the role of a previously scorned profession and shaking up the status quo, all out of God's infinite love for us.
Sources:
American Bible Society, "Shepherds"
Garrison, Webb. Treasury of Christmas Stories. Nashville: Rutledge Hill Press, 1990.
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