December 18th
David was arranging the crib figures; he had already put the Child Jesus safely to one side, he could only arrive on Christmas morning. The wise men too, traditionally arrive 6th of January – though in David’s house it’s more like December 30th. The meaning of a story is the most important part, so David asked…
“Dad, I know Jesus was born in a manger and there were animals there but why an Ox and a Donkey?”
“I guess that’s just what they had. Jesus came for all of creation and that would include the animals.”
“The donkey comes in useful when they have to escape to Egypt.”
“Well yes, good thinking son.”
It is possible that both Ox and Ass were present at the birth of Christ, they are pictured in art forms and carvings dated back many years. The symbolism behind this part of the nativity story is around the understanding of the beasts themselves. The Ox was regarded as a pure animal and the Ass as impure. They symbolised clean and unclean, Jews and Gentiles – and Christ between them.
The Fathers of the Church saw in this a prophesy that pointed ahead to a new people of God, The Church, consisting of both Jews and Gentiles.
In the whole of the nativity scene we see symbolism in: Light and Darkness, Life and Death, the Shepherd and the Lamb of God, and the Bread of Life laid in a manger. We see the Ox and the Ass, who’s eyes were opened at the birth of their Master laid in a crib. What wonder to behold on this and every night.
Isaiah 1:3
The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.
Prayer
Father God creator of all things, you sent your Son to lie between division; to reconcile our differences. May we begin to know that our part in the peace that Christ brings to creation is to live out that peace. Amen.
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