Crib - Advent Quick Glimpse - Fr. Xavier sss (Text below)

Pope Francis says “Every Christian should make room for a little extra love in their hearts, enough to allow for an overflow.”
It is simply meant for the crib which is one of the most important symbols of Christmas.
Etymology of Crib. From Middle English crib, cribbe, from Old English crib, cryb, cribb, crybb (“couch, bed; manger, stall”),
The crib is set in a simple stable or manger, representing the humility of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. The oldest known crib appeared at the end of the 13th century
In 1223, St Francis of Assisi had just returned to Italy from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. While there, he had seen the place where Christ was born. It was approaching Christmas, and he was trying to think of a way of bringing alive for others what he had seen for himself while in Bethlehem.
he felt it would be the ideal place to recreate the humble birth of the Christ Child. His close friend and follower, Giovanni Vellita was lord of Greccio, so St. Francis called on him to help put his idea in motion. He asked him to gather hay for a simple manger and to bring an ox and ass. With the scene set, they invited the local people to attend. Villagers arrived with candles, and they sang as they approached through the woods (First Crib of the World)
Following this event, the custom of having a crib at Christmas spread throughout Europe and indeed the rest of the world.
The Christmas Crib stands as a tangible reminder to us that God is real and God is with us. Cribs come in all shapes and sizes. A crib is an important part of Christmas symbolism and a doorway to deeper reflection and prayer.
It reminds us that Jesus was born as any of us are born. He was placed into a manger, surrounded by his mother, St Joseph and animals. This simplicity is what we should remember when we recall His coming into this world. The tiny infant represented peace and love.
The Christmas crib reinforces the powerful message of the biblical story of Jesus’ birth - that God comes to lift up the lowly, to honour the oppressed, to favour the marginalised and to oppose injustice and violence wherever it is found.
So, as we gaze on a nativity scene this Christmas, may we do so with eyes opened to God’s presence among those who experience poverty or are oppressed by injustice and violence
At the same time, we need to realise God does not want only the symbolic way of Crib rather, he wants us to make ourselves as crib. Make our hearts as crib as the place for Jesus to come and Dwell in our hearts and in our life.
We need to free our hearts mixed with lots of negativities and unhealthy habits and unchristian attitude. If only if we clear all the unwanted things from our heart, Jesus would come down and dwell in our hearts and life
May we allow Holy Spirit to clean our hearts well and to open ourselves to welcome Jesus our Emmauel to be with us always
May this Christmas be a joyful and magical as we experience the birth of Jesus in the Crib of our hearts.
Our heart is the crib and all our goodness becomes the decoration for our Crib.