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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231225
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DTSTAMP:20260427T062322
CREATED:20231223T122154Z
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UID:11414-1703462400-1703548799@laycisterciansofgethsemani.org
SUMMARY:Vigils Reading -Nativity of the Lord
DESCRIPTION:TODAY A SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN FOR YOU \nFrom a commentary by St Aelred of Rievaulx \n◊◊◊ \nToday\, in the city of David\, the Savior of the world is born for us: he is \nChrist the Lord. That city is Bethlehem. We must run there as the shepherds \ndid when they heard these tidings\, and so put into action the words we \ntraditionally sing at this season: They sang of God’s glory\, they hastened to \nBethlehem. \nAnd this shall be a sign for you: you will find the child wrapped in \nswaddling bands and lying in a manger. Now this is what I say: you must love. \nYou fear the Lord of angels\, yes\, but love the tiny babe; you fear the Lord of \nmajesty\, yes\, but love the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes; you fear him \nwho reigns in heaven\, yes\, but love him who lies in the manger. \nWhat sort of sign were the shepherds given? You will find the child \nwrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. It was by this that they \nwere to recognize their Savior and Lord. But is there anything great about being \nwrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a stable – are not other children also \nwrapped in swaddling clothes? What kind of sign\, then\, can this be? \nIndeed it is a great one\, if only we understand it rightly. Such \nunderstanding will be ours if this message of love is not restricted to our \nhearing\, but if our hearts too are illuminated by the light which accompanied \nthe appearance of the angels. The angel who first proclaimed the good tidings \nappeared surrounded by light to teach us that only those whose minds are \nspiritually enlightened can truly understand the message. \nMuch can be said of this sign; but as time is passing\, I shall say little\, and \nbriefly. Bethlehem\, the house of bread\, is holy Church\, in which is distributed \nthe body of Christ\, the true bread. The manger at Bethlehem is the altar of the \nchurch; it is there that Christ’s creatures are fed. This is the table of which it is \nwritten\, You have prepared a banquet for me. In this manger is Jesus\, wrapped \nin the swaddling clothes which are the outward form of the sacraments. Here \nin this manger\, under the species of bread and wine\, is the true body and blood \nof Christ. We believe that Christ himself is here\, but he is wrapped in swaddling \nclothes; in other words\, he is invisibly contained in these sacraments. We have \nno greater or clearer proof of Christ’s birth than our daily reception of his body \nand blood at the holy altar\, and the sight of him who was once born for us of a \nvirgin daily offered in a sacrifice for us. \nAnd so let us hasten to the manger of the Lord. But before drawing near \nwe must prepare ourselves as well as we can with the help of his grace; and then\, \nin company with the angels\, with pure heart\, good conscience\, and unfeigned \nfaith\, we may sing to the Lord in all that we do throughout the whole of our life: \nGlory to God in the highest\, and peace to his people on earth; through our Lord \nJesus Christ\, to whom be honor and glory for ever and ever \n  \n2 Journey with the Fathers – Year B – New City Press – NY -1993 – pg 18-19.5 \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://laycisterciansofgethsemani.org/event/vigils-reading-nativity-of-the-lord-2/
CATEGORIES:Vigils Readings
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