O Come Ye, O Come Ye to Bethlehem!

These words taken from the beautiful and familiar Christmas carol, “O Come, All Ye Faithful” are a clarion call to each and every one of us as we look forward to the coming feast of Christmas. It is particularly important for us during this pivotal time of Eucharistic Revival in our Church.

When we sing, “O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem,” we are really singing, “O come ye, O come ye to the House of Bread.” In Hebrew that is what “Bethlehem” means—“House of Bread.” At the time of Jesus’ birth and during His life on earth, Hebrew was not the spoken language of the Jewish people. Rather, it was Arabic or Aramean. So in the common language, “House of Bread” was “Bethlam,” which also meant “House of Meat.” So, we see that Bethlehem, “House of Bread,” was the birthplace of the Infant Jesus, who would later say, “I am the Bread of Life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst” (Jn 6:35). That same City of David was called “Bethlam” in Aramean, “House of Meat,” where the Lamb of God was born. John the Baptist, His cousin called Him “the Lamb” (Jn. 1:29).
           
As a matter of fact, the Christmas card I sent this year depicts the Three Kings coming to adore the Infant seated on his Mother’s lap with St. Joseph standing by. At the bottom of the scene is a lamb lying on the ground. This lamb is not accompanied by shepherds or free to stand up and cavort around. Instead, its legs are tied together as a lamb that would go to be sacrificed. It points to that place where the Infant would go 33 years later  to offer Himself for us on the Cross.
           
Bethlehem faces Jerusalem at a distance of some five or six miles. What began in the manger at Bethlehem is consummated on the Hill of Calvary, the place of the Altar of the Cross where the Lamb of God is offered in sacrificial love. A manger is where animals are fed. The altar is where we are fed with the Bread of Life, the Flesh of the Lamb of God, in the Holy Eucharist.
           
Just as the shepherds and the kings came to adore the Infant Christ, we, too, come to adore Him who makes Himself present on the Altar. Just as the ancient Hebrews were fed of the flesh of the lamb offered in sacrifice in the temple in Jerusalem, so, we are fed with the Flesh of the Lamb of God at Mass.
           
My dear brothers and sisters, let us sing with our whole heart, “O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem…O Come, let us adore Him” this Christmas and let us joyfully come to Mass, where the Lamb’s Sacrifice is made present again and where the Living Bread from Heaven fills us with Himself. When we come to Mass, we must open our eyes and see that we are truly in the House of Bread, the House where true spiritual “meat and drink” are given to us. It is the Lord Jesus Himself!

Blessed Christmas and a New Year of Grace!

Most Reverend William J. Waltersheid
Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh