Night falls in Bethlehem town,
“House of Bread,” the name renowned.
A star so brilliant leads the way,
To a humble cave where we shall stay.
In that cavern, Joseph the carpenter
Crafts a cradle from a manger,
To cradle the Bread of Heaven,
Who was just born, beneath the moon.
And Virgin Mary, with tender grace,
Holds her child and thinks,
“In truth, this is my child;
In truth, he is a King.”
Angels rejoice
And shepherds sing,
Wise men from afar,
Adore him on their knees.
Time passes, and Jesus grows,
In wisdom and age, His grace bestows.
He becomes a man, and it is then,
That John the Baptist, He goes out to seek.
From a heavenly cloud, the Father’s voice,
Declares with love, in Him, the choice,
“In truth, this is my Son;
In truth, salvation he will bring.”
To those who sin, repent, and pray,
He extends his arms, their debts to sway.
To those who seek and find his grace,
With his gentle gaze, he’ll embrace.
The sick he cleans and heals,
Gives sight to the blind so they can see
How divine love is greater
Than all the power displayed by him.
He chooses twelve and calls to share.
For three years
Formed and transformed they are
— All but one, who betrays him in the end.
The moon shines bright
O’er Jerusalem’s land,
The night of Passover, as planned.
Of Israel, the holiest night!
At the Supper table,
With the Twelve he dines.
His time has come,
Deep within He defines:
It’s time to love with fervent care,
To serve beyond measure, His cross to bear.
The hour has come to surrender, you see,
To death on the wood, for you and for me.
On a cross, He’ll die, our sins to atone,
So that we may live, our debt He’s known.
Rising in glory on the third day’s morn,
Eternal life through Him will be born.
His love for us is vast. It’s clear,
Jesus decides not to disappear.
Emmanuel he is, “God with us”
And forever with us, he decides to stay.
Born in Bethlehem, the House of Bread so sweet,
Slept in a manger that was used to feed.
Upon the table, his bread he sees.
His cup overflows with wine so sweet.
Jesus takes the bread,
Blesses and breaks it.
When the supper is ended,
He blesses the cup and shares it.
But more than mere blessings
His words convey.
The Spirit’s touch
Gives them power as he says:
“In truth, this is my Body,
Which, in truth, I shall give away.
In truth, this is my Blood,
Which in truth, I’ll shed today.”
The baby born in Bethlehem,
Emmanuel who was born in the “House of Bread,”
The Child who slept in the manger used to feed,
Becomes now a celestial meal.
“Eat of my Body, always,
And you’ll always be in me.
Drink of my Blood, always,
And even if you die, you shall forever live.”
*May this Christmas, in the midst of the second year of the National Eucharistic Revival, be for you an opportunity for a true encounter with baby Jesus, hidden in that Bread.
Be passionate about our faith!
Northwest Catholic - December 2023/January 2024