By: Ptr. Gen Concepcion
A major aspect of the Christmas season is food. I cannot think of Christmas without it. Even the poorest families try to prepare something special for the celebration.
Growing up in the province, money was tight, yet the adults in my family always made sure we had a special meal on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. For many, food makes Christmas festive. It often becomes the center of gatherings, whether shared around a table or served buffet-style.
As we read about the birth of the Lord this season, we see that Mary laid the newborn Jesus in a manger. Luke 2:7 says, “She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no guest room available for them.”
A manger is a trough or open box that holds food or water for livestock. The word comes from the Old French mangier, “to eat,” derived from the Latin mandere, “to chew.” In Ilocano, my dialect, the word for “eat” is mangan, and in Italian, mangiare. After giving birth to Him, Mary presented Jesus on a feeding trough, as if saying, “Here is the Bread of Life, eat of Him and you shall live.”
The manger in the first Christmas scene is profoundly symbolic. It points to the very purpose of Jesus’ coming: He became the life-giving food for believers. Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35).
Jesus is the food and water that came down from heaven. Whoever partakes of this bread and water will live forever. His body was beaten, torn, and crucified. Through His death and resurrection, death and sin were defeated. That is why He is our Bread of Life—when we come to Him, our hunger is satisfied; when we believe in Him, our thirst is quenched.
In Jesus we find everlasting life. Nothing in this world—money, fame, achievements, or possessions—can truly satisfy. Only Christ can.
We thank God that our focus this season is not only on decorations, checklists, and feasts. We have been taught through the apostolic teachings in the church that Jesus must remain at the center of our celebrations. We enjoy our meals, but always with worship, joy, and thanksgiving to the Lord.
We also understand that our true nourishment is God’s Word. In the church, we are given many resources to deepen our understanding of Christmas—this devotional, our TV program, Oras ng Katotohanan, our online Christmas program Meditations for Christmas, The Apostle’s Take podcast, and more. I am especially grateful for the Spiritual Place of Accord planner, which guides our daily Bible reading and reflection.
This Christmas, as we gather around festive tables, let us pause to remember, give thanks, and worship our Living Bread and Living Water—the true reason for the season. Let us continue to come to Him, that our hunger may be filled and our thirst quenched. Praise the Lord!
Reflection: Share with us how the Lord Jesus has become your satisfaction.
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