Christmas Homily - Why a Manger - A Reflection on the Nativity of Jesus

Why the Manger
A Reflection on the Nativity Story

There may be some academy awards in the future of the young people who told us the story of the nativity of Jesus at this vigil mass. It’s a story they portrayed with the joy and love of Jesus in their hearts; a joy and love that’s contagious.

So children, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, family, and friends, I’m going to put the message they gave us to words: JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD IS BORN. Tonight we celebrate the Birth of our Savior!

Every year, the children of St. Lawrence look forward to telling us the nativity story. The girls are all eager to be Mary or an angel. The boys are a little more bashful but we have Joseph, shepherds, magi and even Herrod.   

In the nativity story Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem. There is no room for them at the Inn, so they take shelter with the animals. The only place they have to lay the newborn child, Jesus, was in a manger.

God’s mercy was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.

In our little nativity play, the little girls want to be Mary and place baby Jesus to the manger. They know - The manger is important.

Think about that for a moment, the manger is important. A manger where animals are fed; it’s polluted by where it's at: dirty, dusty, and chewed up.

Why would God come to us in such a humble place; a place where animals are fed?

The answer is in the angel’s message - “Don’t be afraid, I bring good news and great joy for all people.”

Good news and great joy for you shepherds, who probably don’t know anything about good news or joy. Jesus is the messiah for even the lowliest of people; the dirty, dusty, and chewed up. Good news shepherds, a savior is born for you.

Good news and great joy for all people, even those like the magi, who have so much. Good news for those who know there’s more than what this world can give them. Jesus is God’s mercy to the world. Good news magi, a savior is born for you.

Born the savior for all people, Jesus came

·      Not in a palace – there wasn’t even room for him in the Inn.

·      Not in royal robes – he's wrapped in swaddling clothes.

·      Not sitting on a throne – he's laid in a manger.

He's the savior for those who can’t always be perfect. Like the shepherds who were terrified by the angels of God; but, came to the manger to be face to face with God. Then they went out and spread the word about the good news they had been told.

He’s the savior for those looking for something greater like the magi, educated people who studied the stars and the writings of prophets, always looking for something more. Educated, rich, and worldly they were compared to kings; yet they were humble enough to come to the manger bringing gifts and prostrating themselves before the messiah.

He's the savior for those like all of us. It doesn’t matter if we consider ourselves magi or shepherds.

Maybe we live a life we think perfection: educated, worldly, and the king of our own little world. No matter how much we have, something’s missing and we look for answer. There has to be more than what our worldly possessions give us.

Or more likely, we’re like the shepherds, far from perfect, terrified, alone, and living with our sins.  We don’t feel comfortable or fit in; we just want to be quite, unseen, and blending into our surroundings.

The thing is that in both cases, to find God, we have to go to the manger.

Our Savior comes to us in a manger. The Savior of the world comes to us: not in a palace; not in royal robes; and not on a throne. God comes to us approachable in a manger.  

Don’t be afraid, because Jesus Christ is approachable. Jesus comes to us in that manger called our hearts. Just like that manger in the animal shed, it’s polluted by all that's around us: dirty, dusty, and chewed up.

The manger of Christ is our hearts. It is in the manger of our hearts that we make room for Jesus.  It is from this manger we humble ourselves to come face to face with the mercy of God. It is from this manger we give Glory to God in the highest.

Come to the manger. The shepherds came with all they had. The magi came with their wealth. Ask, “What do I bring?  What gifts do I lay before Jesus? What do I bring face to face to God?”

That brings us back to the story portrayed for us by the children, young people whose hearts are filled with the joy and love of Jesus. It’s joy that’s contagious. It is the love and joy that bring us to the manger.

All I can say is “JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD HAS COME; EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM!”

Just as Jesus came to us in a manger, tonight we celebrate a special child at our manger. Her name is Olive Grace. Olive Grace was diagnosed in the womb with a severe birth defect. The doctors recommended that the pregnancy be terminated but her parents never hesitated to joyfully receive this child as a special gift from God.  After her birth, she was expected to live only a couple of weeks or months. Today, two years old, we celebrate the life of Olive Grace who represents our baby Jesus in the Nativity.

On behalf of our Pastor Fr. Joe Martina, Fr. Job Scaria, myself and my family I wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Today and every day, may the manger of your heart be filled with the love and joy of Jesus Christ; I pray that each of you and your family’s lives be filled with God’s overflowing mercy.

Amen