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One of the most significant events, if not THE most significant event, in human history is the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Savior of humanity. Christ's birth had been prophesied by many, but it was Isaiah who gave us the fullest and most detailed description of the Messiah's coming. It is notable that besides Mary and Joseph, shepherds were the only individuals allowed to visit Jesus on the night of his birth. Why only shepherds? What is the spiritual significance of the shepherds? We will explore this question.

(références: Isaiah 46:3)

810. "Both small and great!" This symbolizes those people who to a lesser or greater degree are moved by truths of faith or goods of love to worship the Lord.

In the natural sense people small and great mean people of a greater or lesser degree of status, but in the spiritual sense they are people of a greater or lesser degree of worship of the Lord, thus who are moved to worship the Lord more or less reverently or fully by truths of faith or goods of love. This is the symbolic meaning, because it follows the injunction to praise God, all His servants and those who fear Him, and it accords with the symbolic meaning of those words (no. 809). See also nos. 527, 604.