by Christian Calderon
I have always equated manger and stable as having the same meaning. Jesus was born in a manger. Mary and Joseph were in the stable when they had Jesus. The whole scene was called the nativity. Growing up, my parents always had one or two in the house.
It was not until I saw a depiction from The Chosen series that showed the characters of Mary and Joseph on their 90-mile journey to find and prepare a place for the birth of Jesus. Then I understood that the manger was the feeding troth for the livestock. I knew it was a feeding troth but never understood its significance.
After looking up the definition of ‘manger,’ I’ve come to a deeper understanding of its significance. Most of us are familiar with the Last Supper. For me, the birth of Jesus was an invitation to the first supper, if you will. You see, a manger is a feeding trough. The word comes from the French mangier, which means to eat. In essence, an announcement was made (an angel appeared). The directions were given (a star) for an invitation to eat with a king. The food was not physical but everlasting—the Word of God.
So, Christmas is an excellent reminder that we are welcome to come and eat with the most incredible host. Even as an infant, he practiced hospitality. The Word became flesh.