Away in a Manger

[Dream]

"And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger: because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:7)

A manger is basically a trough that feed for livestock is placed. Why would Jesus be placed in a trough? Because He is food for the world. He is the Bread of Life. Those who eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God will have eternal life.

I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen, I say unto you: except you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me: and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna and are dead. He that eateth this bread shall live for ever. (John 6:51-58)

 

[faerieevaH]

A beautiful thought! Though of course probably the fact that there wasn't a nice cradle available will have played a part *W*

 

[Dream]

Though of course probably the fact that there wasn't a nice cradle available will have played a part *W*

Maybe, or maybe you're just being overly simplistic.

 

[Credo]

And He was born in Bethlehem meaning "House of Bread"......more food for thought (no pun intended!)

JMJ

 

[DivineFiliation]

nice insights people! I hadn't thought of things that way.

 

[Swoosh]

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

See- now I've always wondered about this, because women of the time normally wouldn't have put their children in a cradle of any sort... the would have simply carried them- or worn them, rather... Their babies woiuld have definetly slept right next to them.... I wondered why in the heck a new mom would have laid her Son down at all...

perhaps it is merely symbolic of what He was to become for us...

 

[Dream]

And He was born in Bethlehem meaning "House of Bread"......more food for thought (no pun intended!)

JMJ

Very interesting, I did not know this.

 

[Dream]

I hadn't thought of things that way.

Why not?

 

[Markh]

perhaps Jesus was just in the manger for a little while, just while Mary was resting perhaps, I don't think he would have been left there all night.

 

[ProCommunioneFacior]

Fr. Billy Kosco at last year's Christmas Mass gave an awesome homily and he mentioned both the manger and Bethlehem among other things. The way he tied everything together, and the language he used was absolutely beautiful. It was one of the best, if not the best, homilies I have heard. Man I wish I had it on tape. There were tears and smiles all over the assembly. It was awesome!