VIDEO 113 - HN20221204 - ENGLISH
AWAY IN THE MANGER
by Fr Trevor D'Souza, OFM (Franciscan)
TEXT
The manger, the stable is a place for animals. It stinks with the dung and urine of the camels, the cows, the sheep and the donkeys. How ironic, that the King and Creator of the Universe, should not find a place to be born, except in this manger.
The prophet Isaiah will mourn saying, “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand. Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged” (Isaiah 1:2-4).
Centuries later, John will mourn, saying: “In the beginning was the Word. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him” (John 1:1, 10-11).
Away in the manger
Away in a manger, no crib for his bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head:
The stars in bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes;
But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes;
I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky,
And stay by my bedside till morning is nigh.
John also wrote:
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12,14).
We pray, that during this Christmas and at every Christmas that we celebrate on this earth, we will open the inn of our lives and allow the Lord of the universe to be born in the manger of our heart!
The Incarnation, the Word of God taking the form and face of human flesh. To all who RECEIVE him and BELIEVE in his name, he has given the right to become CHILDREN of God.
Come to the manger
Come, come, come to the manger,
Children come to the children’s King.
Sing, sing, chorus of angels, stars of morning,
O’ver Bethlehem sing.
To the manager of Bethlehem come,
To the Saviour Emmanuel’s home;
The heav’nly hosts above are singing,
Set the Christmas bells ringing.
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