A manger is a rack for fodder, or a structure or feeder used to hold food for animals. Mangers are mostly used in livestock raising and generally found at stables and farm houses. Jesus is the King, but had no place to be born, and finally was born in a barn (shed for animals), was kept in a manger and was surrounded by the animals at the barn. But today the manger where Jesus was kept is empty.

Why am I stressing on the empty Manger?
Jesus is not there in the manger because He wants to be born in the manger of our heart. If our hearts are tuned to the worldly pleasures and materialistic things that draws our attention to a very large extent then there is no place for Jesus to be born into our hearts. Joseph and Mary went in search of a place to give birth to Jesus but no one had a place for him. So let us introspect and see if our hearts are ready to welcome Jesus or do we still want to keep the manger (our hearts) empty.

The manger is empty because Jesus or God is born to live among us. That’s why Jesus is called as ‘Emmanuel’ means “God among us” (Mt 1, 23). He does not have preferences, he lives among the rich, poor, marginalized, suffering, old young and people belonging to various faiths. Jesus says “whatever you do to the least of my brethren that you do unto me.”(Mt 25, 40)

So this Christmas let’s not keep the manger (our hearts) empty but allow Jesus to be born in our heart. In order Jesus to be born in our heart, let’s keep our hearts clean. Let’s reach out generously to our brothers and sisters who are really struggling physically, emotionally, spiritually and financially. So that Jesus will really feel happy to live in our hearts. Let’s experience the living Jesus in our brethren because He is living among us.

-Eslinda Fernandes