In the Gospel of Luke we are told that a group of shepherds are tending their sheep in the countryside near the village of Bethlehem. In the darkness of evening an angel of the Lord appears and tells them about the birth of a very special child; “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10). After this experience, we are told that the shepherds “went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger” (Luke 2:16). This image of the Holy Family has become one of the most endearing symbols of the Christmas story. In its simplicity and beauty, the manger scene has inspired countless generations of Christians with a message of hope and love. It shows us that we can find something truly extraordinary in what seems so ordinary.
At the beginning of this month, Pope Francis published an apostolic letter on the meaning and importance of the nativity scene. He offers the following reflection, “Why does the Christmas crèche arouse such wonder and move us so deeply? First, because it shows God’s tender love: the Creator of the universe lowered himself to take up our littleness. The gift of life, in all its mystery, becomes all the more wondrous as we realize that the Son of Mary is the source and sustenance of all life. In Jesus, the Father has given us a brother who comes to seek us out whenever we are confused or lost, a loyal friend ever at our side. He gave us his Son who forgives us and frees us from our sins” (Admirabile Signum, 3).
Pope Francis reminds us that God became one of us for a reason. The Almighty became so small and powerless so that we would not feel intimidated and remain distant. God wants to be close to us so that we will know divine love. We see this clearly in the image of the infant Jesus in the manger scene. He is often depicted with open arms. With this gesture Jesus invites us to come to him to receive healing and hope, forgiveness and mercy.
The nativity scene also reminds us that Jesus was born in extreme poverty. His humble surroundings consisted of a stable filled with animals and his bed was a manger filled with straw. From a material perspective, this family had very little; however, they had each other. The love they shared proved to be their greatest treasure.
In his letter, Pope Francis speaks about the power of this love. “The presence of the poor and the lowly in the nativity scene remind us that God became man for the sake of those who feel most in need of his love and who ask him to draw near to them…By being born in a manger, God himself launches the only true revolution that can give hope and dignity to the disinherited and the outcast: the revolution of love, the revolution of tenderness. From the manger, Jesus proclaims, in a meek yet powerful way, the need for sharing with the poor as the path to a more human and fraternal world in which no one is excluded or marginalized” (Admirabile Signum, 6).
This Christmas I invite you to take the time to contemplate the message of the nativity scene. It offers to our world a powerful sign of life, love and simplicity. May we all find something truly extraordinary in what seems so ordinary – the birth of a child.
