Comments on: Third Week of Advent: Rejoice http://www.kimberleeconwayireton.net/2009/12/third-week-of-advent-rejoice/ is the author of THE CIRCLE OF SEASONS: MEETING GOD IN THE CHURCH YEAR (InterVarsity). She blogs about the 3R's: reading, writing, and raising her four children. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:56:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kimberlee http://www.kimberleeconwayireton.net/2009/12/third-week-of-advent-rejoice/comment-page-1/#comment-779 Kimberlee Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:32:37 +0000 http://www.kimberleeconwayireton.net/?p=988#comment-779 Jean, When I was at Chartes Cathedral outside of Paris (almost 7 years ago now!), one of the panels of stained glass at the back of the church shows the nativity scene, with the baby Jesus lying on an altar. That was when I made the connection you made: the French word "manger" means "to eat." So from the very beginning of His life, Jesus was shown to be the bread of life, the food we eat so that we may live. Makes communion a whole lot more visceral, I think, and our faith a much more embodied experience. Jean,

When I was at Chartes Cathedral outside of Paris (almost 7 years ago now!), one of the panels of stained glass at the back of the church shows the nativity scene, with the baby Jesus lying on an altar. That was when I made the connection you made: the French word “manger” means “to eat.” So from the very beginning of His life, Jesus was shown to be the bread of life, the food we eat so that we may live. Makes communion a whole lot more visceral, I think, and our faith a much more embodied experience.

]]> By: Jean Galbraith http://www.kimberleeconwayireton.net/2009/12/third-week-of-advent-rejoice/comment-page-1/#comment-773 Jean Galbraith Sun, 20 Dec 2009 09:32:59 +0000 http://www.kimberleeconwayireton.net/?p=988#comment-773 As Luke said, "The Mighty One has done great things for me." This is certainly true for me as exemplified through the happenings around my (benign) brain tumor surgery. But, more special, was the Baby Jesus epiphany I got several weeks before my diagnosis, which kept me at peace through the whole process. I was in the kitchen breaking down some boxes for recycling, and on one was the word "mangiare," Italian for "to eat," or "consume." Instantly, the word "manger" came to mind, and the fact that a manger is a plate for animals. It holds the food. I realized that Baby Jesus was not in bed in the manger, but on the plate! And the shepherds had to be the first to come because they are the ones who herd or guide the sheep (us) to the food. When Mary, the Mother of God, placed the incarnate ("carne" is "flesh") Lord in the manger - available for all sheep - instead of holding Him for herself, it was a foreshadow of the communion of the Last Supper, where we are invited to partake of the body and blood of Christ. More than ever before, I felt the message that we are to take Christ into ourselves, such that He becomes a part of us and then His characteristics show through us. This epiphany just Whooshed into my mind as I was recycling. I've told lots of people and none has thought or heard it before. I look at Christmas differently now, and certainly have much to Rejoice over as I "feed" at the manger. As Luke said, “The Mighty One has done great things for me.” This is certainly true for me as exemplified through the happenings around my (benign) brain tumor surgery. But, more special, was the Baby Jesus epiphany I got several weeks before my diagnosis, which kept me at peace through the whole process.
I was in the kitchen breaking down some boxes for recycling, and on one was the word “mangiare,” Italian for “to eat,” or “consume.” Instantly, the word “manger” came to mind, and the fact that a manger is a plate for animals. It holds the food. I realized that Baby Jesus was not in bed in the manger, but on the plate! And the shepherds had to be the first to come because they are the ones who herd or guide the sheep (us) to the food.
When Mary, the Mother of God, placed the incarnate (“carne” is “flesh”) Lord in the manger – available for all sheep – instead of holding Him for herself, it was a foreshadow of the communion of the Last Supper, where we are invited to partake of the body and blood of Christ.
More than ever before, I felt the message that we are to take Christ into ourselves, such that He becomes a part of us and then His characteristics show through us.
This epiphany just Whooshed into my mind as I was recycling. I’ve told lots of people and none has thought or heard it before. I look at Christmas differently now, and certainly have much to Rejoice over as I “feed” at the manger.

]]> By: Carol Conway http://www.kimberleeconwayireton.net/2009/12/third-week-of-advent-rejoice/comment-page-1/#comment-767 Carol Conway Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:27:16 +0000 http://www.kimberleeconwayireton.net/?p=988#comment-767 Wonderful Advent message! Your passionate personal touch in your writing inspires me!! I know that your first book, CIRCLE of SEASONS, will someday take off. We need to get it in the hands of more people. The world needs to know the importance of the Christ Child and how our ordinary days and years can be joyfully lived in serving Him. Wonderful Advent message! Your passionate personal touch in your writing inspires me!! I know that your first book, CIRCLE of SEASONS, will someday take off. We need to get it in the hands of more people. The world needs to know the importance of the Christ Child and how our ordinary days and years can be joyfully lived in serving Him.

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