Out of Bethlehem,
says the Prophet, shall he come forth that is to be the Ruler in Israel.
The Jewish Priests are well aware of the prophecy, and a few days hence will
tell it to Herod (St. Matthew 2:5). But why was this insignificant town chosen
in preference to every other to be the birth-place of Jesus? Be attentive,
Christians, to the mystery! The name of this City of David signifies the
House of Bread: therefore did He, who is the living Bread come down from
heaven (St. John 6:41), choose it for his first visible home. Our Fathers
did eat manna in the desert and are dead (St. John 6:49), but lo! here is the
Saviour of the world, come to give life to His creature man by means of His own
divine Flesh, which is meat indeed (St. John 6:56). Up to this time
the Creator and the creature had been separated from each other; henceforth they
shall abide together in closest union. The Ark of the Covenant, containing the
manna which fed but the body, is now replaced by the Ark of the New Covenant,
purer and more incorruptible than the other: the incomparable Virgin Mary, who
gives us Jesus, the Bread of Angels, the nourishment which will give us a
divine transformation; for this Jesus Himself has said: He that eateth my
flesh abideth in me, and I in him (St. John 6:57).
It is for this divine
transformation that the world was in expectation for four thousand years,
and for which the Church prepared herself by the four weeks of Advent. It has
come at last, and Jesus is about to enter within us, if we will but receive
Him (St. John 1:12). He asks to be united by His Incarnation to the whole
human race; and for this end he wishes to become our Bread, our spiritual
nourishment His coming into the souls of men at this mystic season has no other
aim than this union. He comes not to judge the world, but that the world may
be saved by him (St. John 3:17), and that all may have life, and may have
it more abundantly (St. John 10:10). This divine Lover of our souls will not
be satisfied, therefore, until he have substituted Himself in our place, so that
we may live not we ourselves, but He in us; and in order that this mystery may
be effected in a sweeter way, it is under the form of an Infant that this
Beautiful Fruit of Bethlehem wishes first to enter into us, there to grow
afterwards in wisdom and age before God and men (St. Luke 2:40, 52).
And
when, having thus visited us by His grace and nourished us in His love, He shall
have changed us into Himself, there shall be accomplished in us a still further
mystery. Having become one in spirit and heart with Jesus, the Son of the
heavenly Father, we shall also becomes sons of this same God our Father. The
beloved Disciple, speaking of this our dignity, cries out: Behold! what
manner of charity the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called,
and should be the sons of God! (1 St. John 3:1).
We
encourage everyone to print or email copies of this web page to all the Bishops
and all the clergy. Also, send this page to as many people as possible.
Out of Bethlehem,
says the Prophet, shall he come forth that is to be the Ruler in Israel.
The Jewish Priests are well aware of the prophecy, and a few days hence will
tell it to Herod (St. Matthew 2:5). But why was this insignificant town chosen
in preference to every other to be the birth-place of Jesus? Be attentive,
Christians, to the mystery! The name of this City of David signifies the
House of Bread: therefore did He, who is the living Bread come down from
heaven (St. John 6:41), choose it for his first visible home. Our Fathers
did eat manna in the desert and are dead (St. John 6:49), but lo! here is the
Saviour of the world, come to give life to His creature man by means of His own
divine Flesh, which is meat indeed (St. John 6:56). Up to this time
the Creator and the creature had been separated from each other; henceforth they
shall abide together in closest union. The Ark of the Covenant, containing the
manna which fed but the body, is now replaced by the Ark of the New Covenant,
purer and more incorruptible than the other: the incomparable Virgin Mary, who
gives us Jesus, the Bread of Angels, the nourishment which will give us a
divine transformation; for this Jesus Himself has said: He that eateth my
flesh abideth in me, and I in him (St. John 6:57).
