Levi the shepherd of Bethlehem in Judah
Orphan of Bethlehem. He is the youngest of the shepherds of the Nativity:
"This man here, was a boy then,[1] and he was the first to see the angel."[2]
Placed in quarantine by the village along with Elias, after the massacre of the innocents, he becomes a shepherd in the service of "a rich Herodian from Jerusalem, who has taken possession of a lot of the property belonging to the people killed…", a harsh man.[3]
Elias and he, faithful believer shepherds, recite evening and morning the "Gloria", "heavenly words [that] were written in our hearts with a heavenly fire" heard from the angels, with the hope of knowing if the Messiah is alive and to see him one day.[4]
During the Passion of the Christ, on his way up to Calvary, Levi is present with 9 other faithful shepherds. Jesus "looks at them fixedly as if they were the faces of angels, He seems to quench His thirst and fortify Himself with their tears, and He smiles…"[5] This small group also stays at the foot of the cross.
At his Resurrection, Jesus appears "glorious" to him and the other shepherds:
"Faithful servants. Here I am. Go. I will wait for you in Galilee in a few days’ time. I want to tell you once more that I love you. Jonah is blissful, with the others, in Heaven."[6]
The shepherds sing the Gloria and go to announce the risen Christ to the pagans and strengthen the faith of their brothers.[7]
At his Ascension, Jesus calls to him his closest, the apostles, the shepherds, Lazarus, Joseph, Nicodemus, Manahen, Maximin, Marjiam and all those who are part of the seventy-two disciples. But above all he keeps the shepherds near him to thank them for having been present from his birth to his death and for knowing how to suffer for their faith.[8]
Character and Appearance
He is barely forty years old when he meets Jesus again near Hebron. Virile and bearded face.[9]
Apostolic Journey
Witness of the Nativity[10] - of the Crucifixion[11] - of the Resurrection.[12] - of the Ascension.[13]
One of the seventy-two disciples sent on mission two by two.[14]
His Name
Levi means "Attachment". Historical reference: 3rd son of Jacob and Leah. He is the ancestor of the Levites, the priestly class.
Where is he mentioned in the work?
GRM 30 GRM 73 GRM 75 GRM 76 GRM 77 GRM 79 GRM 81 GRM 86 GRM 87 GRM 88 GRM 89 GRM 90
GRM 208 GRM 209 GRM 210 GRM 270 GRM 275 GRM 276 GRM 277 GRM 278 GRM 280