Chapter 20 – Advent’s Way to the House of Bread: A Day with the Hospitable Shepherds of Judea
- Beata
- Dec 31, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 14
A Day with the Hospitable Shepherds of Judea - Advent’s Way to the House of Bread
At midday, they stopped in front of a large shepherd’s house. A separate small building for farming and shepherding tools stood beside it. In the courtyard, there was a well, from which water flowed through channels into stone basins. The estate was spacious, and many servants moved about, busy with their duties.
The owner proved to be exceptionally hospitable. He instructed a servant to wash Joseph’s feet by the well and to clean and air his garments. In the same way, female servants attended to Miriam and the children, who at first would not allow themselves to be touched.
When needed, their parents helped with the washing, and no stranger changed their clothes. The children assured the servant that they were very independent and did not need her assistance.
They felt tempted to splash water from the basin at one another, but they knew they must not soak their clothes - they would not dry in time for the journey ahead.
In a sheltered part of the courtyard, mats and cushions were laid out. Bread and bowls of soup were placed on clay trays, and everyone sat around in a half-reclining position, eating the warm soup and speaking quietly.
For the first time, they were served a vegetable soup fragrant with onion and garlic. Large pieces of carrot and parsley floated on the surface. It was similar to the soup their mother used to make at home.
The children quickly finished their meal, and Joseph, wanting Miriam to rest a little longer, let them run around and “explore” the farm, and there was plenty to see!
Marcel lightly tapped Gabi on the shoulder, calling out:
"Let’s see if you can catch me!" – and dashed toward the animal shelter.
Of course, Gabi ran after him as fast as she could for her age.
Behind the farm building stood several wooden posts forming a rectangular structure. Between them, freshly harvested reeds and bundles of grass were laid across crossbeams to dry. On two wooden ladders, workers stood, placing the bundles onto a wooden, or rather twig-based, framework stretched above the beams.
Nearby, several workers were busy preparing the thatch – the name for these straw bundles. They skillfully layered the reeds and straw, then tied them with twine so they would be ready to lift onto the roof – thick straw mats.
There was something fascinating about it: everything was done by hand, without metal tools, yet in a short time, the workers prepared material for an entire roof. Marcel tried to get a closer look, but the workers smiled kindly and let the children watch from a safe distance.
The air smelled of dried reeds and straw, while the sun reflected off the stone walls of the farm building. Gabi thought that every movement, every bundle, was part of the daily care for the home – and at the same time part of this winter, quiet work that had been carried out for generations in Judea.
Marcel froze, overwhelmed by the sight of so many people in one place. He stepped closer, watching how every movement was precise and deliberate – bundle by bundle, material was being created that would soon become the roof of another farm building. Gathering his courage, he asked the nearest worker:
"What are you making here?"
The man smiled warmly, straightened up, and politely explained to the children while Gabi stood beside her brother.
"You see these branches and logs for firewood, and the bigger pieces needed for various repairs?"
"Yes, there’s so much!" – exclaimed the boy.
"Exactly. We have to protect them from the rain so they can dry for burning…"
"Oh yes… I also helped Joseph light a fire, and the dry branches burned much better." – The worker smiled and patted Marcel on the shoulder.
"You’re observant."
Gabi added her own comment –
"Grandpa also has a shed to dry wood, but it’s different; the roof is different, and the wood looks different, too. Are you going to arrange all these things here as well?" – she pointed to rakes, baskets, buckets, wooden shovels, sacks of grain, and hay. The amused worker nodded:
"Of course. There are many workers, a lot of work, and we need more space to store the tools. Also, under the roof, we can cut straw, mix feed for the animals, and store it for some time."
"Can I climb the ladder and help?" – Marcel asked, and Gabi grinned widely at the very thought of getting onto the roof. The worker scratched his head, unsure what to say. But the one sitting on the already covered part of the roof called from above:
"Sure. Come up, but only for a little while."
The children didn’t need a second invitation. They ran in a race, jostling at the ladder because each wanted to climb first. The ladder wobbled, and at its top, a worker who hadn’t yet descended held on. Luckily, the one on the roof grabbed the last rung and steadied it. The children blushed, calmed down, and apologized for the commotion. Marcel bent slightly, one hand at his chest, and with the other, pointed the way for Gabi:
"Ladies first…"
The little girl laughed happily and, like a little squirrel, jumped to the top of the ladder. The worker reached out to her and helped her sit on the roof. Kneeling on the straw, Gabi looked around curiously at the surroundings. She wasn’t eager to come down, but didn’t say anything when her brother’s voice called from below:
"Now it’s my turn. Gabi, come down, they have to work."
All the workers burst out laughing. The one on the roof helped Gabi stabilize on the ladder, and the girl obediently descended. Marcel tried to skip two rungs at a time, but they were too far apart, so he climbed carefully to the top. He refused the worker’s helping hand.
"I’ll do it myself, he whispered. Wow! This is amazing. Too bad my bed isn’t this high, and instead of a mattress, there isn’t straw."
The worker smiled faintly, not quite understanding what the boy meant. After a moment, Marcel also descended on his own. The children chatted briefly, and Gabi was the first to disappear somewhere into the courtyard.
Where did she go unnoticed? What was Marcel doing at that time? Will he find her? What do you think will happen next on this Advent’s Way to the House of Bread, full of adventures and surprises? The Advent’s Way to the House of Bread continues. Stay until the end. Perseverance is a great virtue. Both Joseph and Mary practiced it. You know… You can too. Really.
The Psalms have accompanied people for centuries on journeys, escapes, returns, and nights spent “on the outskirts.” They were the prayers of pilgrims, families, exiles, and those who had no temple—only the road.
Prayer on the road with the Psalms means allowing God’s Word to go with us, exactly to the places where we are.
For this part of the journey, I chose a verse from Psalm 145:20:
"For the Lord protects all who love Him, and everyone who trusts in Him finds refuge."
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