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Vigils Reading -Nativity of the Lord
December 25, 2023
TODAY A SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN FOR YOU
From a commentary by St Aelred of Rievaulx
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Today, in the city of David, the Savior of the world is born for us: he is
Christ the Lord. That city is Bethlehem. We must run there as the shepherds
did when they heard these tidings, and so put into action the words we
traditionally sing at this season: They sang of God’s glory, they hastened to
Bethlehem.
And this shall be a sign for you: you will find the child wrapped in
swaddling bands and lying in a manger. Now this is what I say: you must love.
You fear the Lord of angels, yes, but love the tiny babe; you fear the Lord of
majesty, yes, but love the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes; you fear him
who reigns in heaven, yes, but love him who lies in the manger.
What sort of sign were the shepherds given? You will find the child
wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. It was by this that they
were to recognize their Savior and Lord. But is there anything great about being
wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a stable – are not other children also
wrapped in swaddling clothes? What kind of sign, then, can this be?
Indeed it is a great one, if only we understand it rightly. Such
understanding will be ours if this message of love is not restricted to our
hearing, but if our hearts too are illuminated by the light which accompanied
the appearance of the angels. The angel who first proclaimed the good tidings
appeared surrounded by light to teach us that only those whose minds are
spiritually enlightened can truly understand the message.
Much can be said of this sign; but as time is passing, I shall say little, and
briefly. Bethlehem, the house of bread, is holy Church, in which is distributed
the body of Christ, the true bread. The manger at Bethlehem is the altar of the
church; it is there that Christ’s creatures are fed. This is the table of which it is
written, You have prepared a banquet for me. In this manger is Jesus, wrapped
in the swaddling clothes which are the outward form of the sacraments. Here
in this manger, under the species of bread and wine, is the true body and blood
of Christ. We believe that Christ himself is here, but he is wrapped in swaddling
clothes; in other words, he is invisibly contained in these sacraments. We have
no greater or clearer proof of Christ’s birth than our daily reception of his body
and blood at the holy altar, and the sight of him who was once born for us of a
virgin daily offered in a sacrifice for us.
And so let us hasten to the manger of the Lord. But before drawing near
we must prepare ourselves as well as we can with the help of his grace; and then,
in company with the angels, with pure heart, good conscience, and unfeigned
faith, we may sing to the Lord in all that we do throughout the whole of our life:
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth; through our Lord
Jesus Christ, to whom be honor and glory for ever and ever
2 Journey with the Fathers – Year B – New City Press – NY -1993 – pg 18-19.5