Jesus in the manger... what does this sign mean to non-Catholics?

[Robert_in_SD]

And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. (Lk. 2:12)

Hello all. I would like to know what significance, if any, non-Catholics place upon the “sign” of the infant Jesus being placed in a manger.

From the Miriam Webster Online Dictionary:

Main Entry: **man·ger **Pronunciation: \ˈmān-jər\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English mangeour, manger, from Anglo-French mangure, from manger to eat, from Latin manducare to chew, devour, from manducus glutton, from mandere to chew — more at mandible
Date: 14th century
: a trough or open box in a stable designed to hold feed or fodder for livestock

Could it mean something more than the mere fact that there was no room at the inn?

Merry Christmas,
-Robert

 

[a_mirror_dimly]

Personally, I appreciate it more when people outright deliver their opinions rather than pretending to be seeking the opinions of others. You want to draw attention to the idea the function of the manger is symbolic of the idea of the Real Presence. I get that. Next time however, just come out and say it. If the purpose of your thread is genuinely understanding others instead of exposition, I suggest that you avoid leading questions in your posts.

 

[Robert_in_SD]

Personally, I appreciate it more when people outright deliver their opinions rather than pretending to be seeking the opinions of others. You want to draw attention to the idea the function of the manger is symbolic of the idea of the Real Presence. I get that. Next time however, just come out and say it. If the purpose of your thread is genuinely understanding others instead of exposition, I suggest that you avoid leading questions in your posts.

Thanks for the “friendly advice” neighbor. I did not intend to ask a “leading” question. I was looking for a real discussion.

I thought the Eucharistic reference was pretty obvious from the text of the scripture, the definition, and my question, given the totality of what I posted. I did not think I would have to spell out my own Catholic interpretation of the passage in order to request non-Catholic interpretations.

Again, if my original post was not clear, let me state that I’d like to know what non-Catholics have to say about the sign of the infant Jesus in the manger. I suspect that the Orthodox, Lutherans, Anglicans and others who accept some form of Christ’s presence in the sacrament would see much the same thing as I do as a Catholic. Those that deny such a presence on doctrinal grounds would, I imagine, see something else in the text. I’d like to hear what it is they make of it.

If you’re now feeling too defensive to give a reasoned response to my question - a_mirror_d, then feel free to look elsewhere for another topic to contribute to. However, if you have something of real substance to contribute to a discussion, then I would appreciate a courteous and charitable response. Whatever you decide to do is fine with me. But I would certainly enjoy hearing another faith tradition’s non-eucharistic interpretation.

Peace,
-Robert

 

[ralphinal]

Doesn’t Bethlehem translate to “House of Bread?”

 

[paarsurrey]

Personally, I appreciate it more when people outright deliver their opinions rather than pretending to be seeking the opinions of others. You want to draw attention to the idea the function of the manger is symbolic of the idea of the Real Presence. I get that. Next time however, just come out and say it. If the purpose of your thread is genuinely understanding others instead of exposition, I suggest that you avoid leading questions in your posts.

Hi

I agree with you.

If Jesus was no lying in the manger, he would be lying on a chair or table, would that not have been a sign? The Sign is Jesus not the manger, please.

I love Jesus and Mary as I do love Buddha and Krishna

Thanks

 

[ChristianKnight]

This is just a idea, not a belief or anything.

Maybe Satan made the innmaster tell them their was no room, but their actually was, but he was being forced to not let them in? Just a thought.

 

[Blade_and_Blood]

Hello all. I would like to know what significance, if any, non-Catholics place upon the “sign” of the infant Jesus being placed in a manger.

From the Miriam Webster Online Dictionary:

Could it mean something more than the mere fact that there was no room at the inn?

Merry Christmas,
-Robert

It depends on what you mean by “non-Catholic.” If you are referring to another Christian denomination, then, yes, of course, there is a significance to the Manger.

Non-Christians, however, probably don’t care for it. A precious few can actually be offended by it (usually hardcore Atheists). Another precious few possibly appreciate it as a part of culture even though they don’t practice that certain faith.

But that’s just me. I hope that helps.

Ironically Yours, Blade and Blood

 

[Robert_in_SD]

If Jesus was no lying in the manger, he would be lying on a chair or table, would that not have been a sign? The Sign is Jesus not the manger, please.

The scriptures speak of the sign being a babe in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. Let’s deal with the whole of the sign that was revealed. What about Jesus do you believe was being revealed (or signified) by the fact that he was lying in a manger? As your profile indicates you are a Muslim, do you think there is some other significance to the use of a manger? Do you think this may be a corruption to support christian eucharistic beliefs? Something else? Truly, I seek your (name removed by moderator)ut rather than your simple dismissal of my question.

paarsurrey:

I love Jesus and Mary as I do love Buddha and Krishna

And I respect your Prophet (peace be upon him) as I respect other men who sought for truth with the graces that they were given.

Peace,
-Robert

 

[Soutane]

I believe that placing Christ in the manger was a foreshadowing of the Eucharist not merely serendipity.Going to Bethlehem-the place of bread is also tremendously significant.Our Lord is very subtle and I don’t believe in coincidences when it comes to the Holy Spirit and Holy Scripture.

 

[Steadfast]

It speaks of the lowliness of his birth and his humiliation, that He, the True God came to us not as one born to the purple, but meek, and lowly, lying in a manger.

 

[paarsurrey]

The scriptures speak of the sign being a babe in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. Let’s deal with the whole of the sign that was revealed. What about Jesus do you believe was being revealed (or signified) by the fact that he was lying in a manger? As your profile indicates you are a Muslim, do you think there is some other significance to the use of a manger? Do you think this may be a corruption to support christian eucharistic beliefs? Something else? Truly, I seek your (name removed by moderator)ut rather than your simple dismissal of my question.

And I respect your Prophet (peace be upon him) as I respect other men who sought for truth with the graces that they were given.

Peace,
-Robert

Hi

Thanks for your good words. I am from a village, a one as described where Jesus was born. Things were very simple in the villages. These are only trivial things. I remain focussed on Jesus who was himself a Sign of God Allah as He had selected Jesus to deliver the message to the erring people; like Jesus himself told , God Allah had seleceted Jonah to deliver his message. Now the importance is :

1.Selection by God Allah.
2.The message of God Allah
3.The man Jesus who is to deliver that message
4.The way that mission of delivering the message is accomplished.

This is like you want to send a garland of flowers to your one of friends.

I think you get my point.

I love Jesus and Mary as I do love Buddha and Krishna

Regards

 

[Reuben_J]

Personally, I appreciate it more when people outright deliver their opinions rather than pretending to be seeking the opinions of others. You want to draw attention to the idea the function of the manger is symbolic of the idea of the Real Presence. I get that. Next time however, just come out and say it. If the purpose of your thread is genuinely understanding others instead of exposition, I suggest that you avoid leading questions in your posts.

I tend to agree with this maybe because I am a rather straightforward person and have no time for beating about the bush. There are questions that being posed and before you know it you’re being trapped in something you don’t mean to say. Then you need to clarify and waste plenty of time.

At first glance I just simply don’t know the answer to the question by the OP until you mention it has something to do with the Eucharist. As a Catholic I don’t see the significant of Jesus born in the manger being related to the Eucharist. Its only significance, I think, that the Son of God came to earth not as an earthly prince born in a beautiful palace but as a humble son of a carpenter born in a cowshed. Then that to me, is something to reflect for this Christmas.

My apology to the OP. I don’t mean to say that you posed leading question and my answer is not meant to judge your thought in starting the thread. I was speaking generally.

God bless.

 

[Robert_in_SD]

It speaks of the lowliness of his birth and his humiliation, that He, the True God came to us not as one born to the purple, but meek, and lowly, lying in a manger.

Thanks. I see your point here. Certainly, one does not get much lower than being placed in an animal’s feeding trough.

Peace,
-Robert

 

[Robert_in_SD]

I tend to agree with this maybe because I am a rather straightforward person and have no time for beating about the bush. There are questions that being posed and before you know it you’re being trapped in something you don’t mean to say. Then you need to clarify and waste plenty of time.

At first glance I just simply don’t know the answer to the question by the OP until you mention it has something to do with the Eucharist. As a Catholic I don’t see the significant of Jesus born in the manger being related to the Eucharist. Its only significance, I think, that the Son of God came to earth not as an earthly prince born in a beautiful palace but as a humble son of a carpenter born in a cowshed. Then that to me, is something to reflect for this Christmas.

My apology to the OP. I don’t mean to say that you posed leading question and my answer is not meant to judge your thought in starting the thread. I was speaking generally.

God bless.

Fair enough. Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut. I seem to end up pondering the significance of the manger every year at about this time. To me, the scriptural placement of Jesus in a feeding trough at birth seems to hold many layers of meaning. Certainly, the one we can all agree on is the lowness of his earthly standing, the humility of his standings at the outset. But as I move closer to the end of my days, I start to see something more eucharistic in the sign… That from his initial moments on earth, the ultimate and intimate communion of His life and ours was foreshadowed. Even if your faith tradition does not hold to a eucharistic sacrament, one can see that the scriptural placement of the infant Jesus in a manger implicitly registers on some level as a suggestion of the consumption of the Word made flesh. Even if you do not accept the Real Presence, and apply a spiritual significance, christians can accept that we are to partake of the Word, and this manger scene foreshadows it. Just my 2 cents… something to ponder in these weeks leading up to Christmas.

Peace
-Robert