Listen

Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified.

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.”

Luke 2:8-14

Think

Two words resonate for me here: snugly and manger. In a Google search for both words, I found: snugly = in a comfortable, warm, and cozy or well-protected manner; and manger = low open container which cows, horses, and other animals feed from. In my mind I always interpreted the manger as the whole space in the Nativity scene. But looking at the definition, I can see it’s not exactly that. The manger is the box where Jesus is lying. A box that was once filled with grass for animals to eat. I imagine it was not clean, it did not smell good, it was not beautiful. But it was the best thing for the baby to sleep in.

It brings curiosity on how snugly, comfortable, warm, and cozy Jesus felt in such a unique place. I guess Mary and Joseph did the best with what they got. I think it is a powerful message for us, too, when things are not always as we want, and we must improvise with what we’ve got.

Ivette Linares-Rivera

Pray

Dear God, today I pray that I might see what I have around me and how it can work to do your will.

Let me understand it is not always as I want but as you want.

Let me see Jesus and rejoice in the simple, in the broken, in the everyday happenings.

Amen.

Go

Be glad in the Lord always! Again I say, be glad!

Philippians 4:4