The honesty of the evangelists

And the shepherds went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2: 16-21)

The shepherds were despised by the locals and, therefore, were persons of be avoided. Yet, they were the first to accept without delay the heavenly angels' invitation to adore the world's new-born Saviour. This historical fact underscores the honesty of the evangelists who reported the events just as they occurred. In fact, professional writers would not have quoted the testimony of despised people for fear of not being taken seriously. Let us also try to be humble like the shepherds in Bethlehem when we are called to pay witness to Jesus in our lives.