Without going into too much detail, I love the rhymed Second Shepherd’s Play in England’s Wakefield Mystery Cycle written in the 1500s. These were acted out in town squares in front of cathedrals to share the Nativity story long before most citizens could read or owned Bibles. Shepherds and angels acted on stage along with Mak, a comic rascal who steals a sheep.
When the shepherds miss a plump ewe, they search Mak’s home suspecting he’s been up to no good again. He tells them to be quiet as his wife has just had a baby and is resting. The newborn asleep in the cradle is the stolen sheep Mak has covered with a blanket and knitted cap. The shepherds cooperate but after leaving feel bad that they didn’t leave the newborn a gift. They return and discover the truth.
The price for sheep stealing in those days was hanging but just then they all see heaven’s angels overhead singing the good news of the Christ child’s birth. The shepherds rush to Bethlehem to welcome Jesus. Because their joy is great, they beat Mak lightly and forgive him (this one time) before they all break into song adoring Jesus.
The unknown author, simply known as The Wakefield Master, uses comedy parallels so well he brings Bible lessons to life with great examples that stick with us. This play is one of my all-time favorites since I first read it years ago in a dusty classroom. You can find it online.
I wish you a happy and blessed Christmas filled with family and friends. May your coming year be even more blessed—and include humor, too!
One more thing:
I am so thankful for you! Your support and encouragement mean the world to me. I want to do something special for you so I have partnered with Celebrate Lit for a giveaway just for you to build up that “To Be Read” pile!
Here is your chance to win 50+ books written by many participating authors and the Grand Prize is a $500 Amazon Gift Card to buy a ton of books for yourself in Celebrate Lit’s Merry Christmas Readers Giveaway.
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