While they were there, the time came for
her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him
in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for
them in the inn.
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the
fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord
appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were
struck with great fear. The angel said to them “Do not be afraid; for behold, I
proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David a savior has been born
for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find
an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly
there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and
saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his
favor rests.”
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Reflection:
What is a manger? It’s a box where feeds for farm
animals are placed, where is a manger located? It’s located in a barn, what is
a barn? It’s a small place where farm animals are located or housed. God chose
Jesus to be born in that lowly location for a reason and that reason is for us
to appreciate that Jesus comes to our life in the humblest and simplest
occurrence.
God could have chosen Jesus to be born in a palace
befitting His status, but God chose Jesus to be born in a humble location so
that He would be accessible to all of us. If God had chosen Jesus to be born in
a palace, He would have been distancing Himself from many of us, for palaces
befit only the rich, royalty, and kings.
Jesus was born in a barn because no other place was
available for them or no one was willing to let them in. They went knocking
from door to door but to no avail. Perhaps they were all busy that’s why they
have no time to open their house for the birth of Jesus.
On this night of the birth of Jesus, He is knocking at
the doors of our hearts as well. Let us open our hearts to Jesus let us let Him
dwell there for there is no greater gift that we can ever receive this
Christmas than Jesus Himself. Because if we have Jesus we already have
everything.
Would you open your heart to Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
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