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Gospel: Luke 2: 1-14
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
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 Messiah 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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Part of the reason why we’ve made this pilgrimage is to see and touch the places where Jesus lived, ministered, died, and rose from the dead. Today, for example, we find ourselves right where Jesus was born!
These experiences are meant to strengthen our faith and understanding that he really lived, he really died, and he really was raised from the dead. Jesus was a real, historical person – not some figment of our imagination or a character in a fairy tale.
Saint Luke makes the same effort when writing his Gospel, at times listing historical events with painstaking detail. In today’s Gospel, for example, he writes:
“In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus…when Quirinius was governor of Syria…And Joseph went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem.”
Luke wants the reader to be certain: Jesus of Nazareth was here.
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So, what’s special about his birthplace? Why did the Lord choose to become flesh here in Bethlehem?
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One reason is because “Bethlehem” means “house of bread.”
From his birth, the Lord is setting the stage for what he will leave behind: his resurrected presence in the Eucharist.
Luke adds a further detail: Jesus was born in a trough. Just as animals receive nourishment from food placed in a trough, so we are meant to feed on Christ, who was born in Bethlehem, the “house of bread.”
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May our presence here today reaffirm what we already believe: Jesus wasn’t a figure from a fairy tale. He was – and is – real.
And we are about to receive Him now. (If you’re reading this online, know we’re carrying you to the altar today).
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Image credits: (1) History Hit, Basilica of the Nativity (2) OMHKSEA, Basilica of the Nativity (3) www.bethlehem-city.org
Love this one. The only food we need.🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏