The ancient prophecies foretold that the promised Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. From the Book of Micah we read: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel” (Mic 5:2). Jeremiah further tells us that the Messiah would come from the line of David: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch” (Jer 23:5). It was clearly part of God’s plan that Jesus would be born in the City of David, the great king of Israel. Joseph and Mary went up to Bethlehem to be enrolled in the census because Joseph was of David’s lineage. In fact, both Joseph and Mary were descendants of David, placing their newborn Son firmly within the royal line. And as the eternal Son of God, Christ would unite in Himself kingship and priesthood, becoming not only the Son of David, but our eternal High Priest.

All of this is important, and much more could be said. But there is another point we should consider this Christmas. The name Bethlehem is made up of two Hebrew words meaning “House of Bread” or “House of Food.” In Arabic, its literal meaning is “House of Meat.” One might be tempted to dismiss this as insignificant, but there are no coincidences in salvation history—and certainly none with God, who is the Lord of time and eternity. Our Lord Himself reveals the meaning of this mystery in Saint John’s Gospel when He declares, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (Jn 6:35). He continues with words that are even more striking: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (Jn 6:53).

This teaching reaches its fulfillment at the Last Supper, on the night He was betrayed. “Then he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me’” (Lk 22:19). Returning again to John chapter six, Jesus leaves no room for misunderstanding: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (Jn 6:53).

All of this is bound together by a single golden thread. Bethlehem in Hebrew is the House of Bread, and Jesus calls Himself the Bread of Life. Later, He takes bread, declares it to be His Body, gives it to His disciples to eat, and commands them to “do this” in His memory. Then we recall the Arabic name—House of Meat—and His insistence: “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you.” Many were offended by these words and began to leave Him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” (Jn 6:67). Simon Peter answered Him with words that remain the confession of the Church: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:68).

Every time we kneel at the altar, we kneel once again at the crib. The same Jesus born in Bethlehem now feeds us with His true Flesh and true Drink. As we celebrate the feast of His Nativity, let us give thanks for this little Bethlehem, where the Bread of Life first came into the world—for us.