The Empty Manger

   All over the world churches and families are beginning to display the nativity scenes we associate with the birth of our Lord.  As I was putting up the creche we always display I was again drawn to the fact that we leave the manger empty until Christmas Eve.

   Logically the manger should be empty until Christmas since He wasn’t born and placed in it until then.  However, I think there is a very important spiritual reason to leave it empty as well.

   When we look at the nativity we see Mary, Joseph and the Magi.  Some scenes include an angel or angels, the little shepherd boy and maybe a few animals such as lambs or cows.  The focus of all of those in the scene is on the manger even though it remains empty for most of December.

   The empty manger speaks to the anticipation of our Lord’s birth.  It gives us a frequent reminder that something was missing from the world and would be missing until the infant Jesus was placed in the manger.  “And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us, (John 1: 14).  God put on humanity and became one of us for a time.  He lived as we live, was tempted as we are tempted, suffered and died as a man yet rose again in His glory.  He paid the price for our sins.

   As we look at the empty manger may we remember what it truly means; the infinite love of God.  He loved us so much that He was willing to become one of us to give us the opportunity to know Him, love Him and accept Him as our savior.

   This season is full of preparation and anticipation.  The empty manger speaks to the coming of our Lord.  May our hearts be filled with the anticipation of our Lord’s birth and may we welcome Him into our lives.  He is coming, Amen!