What do swaddling clothes symbolize in the story of Jesus' birth?

In Luke 2:7, Mary swaddled Jesus in strips of cloth, which speaks volumes about His humble beginnings. The use of swaddling clothes, often made from old rags, represents not only the poverty into which He was born but also His co-identification with humanity, especially the lowly and marginalized. This act serves to illustrate the nature of His mission: to reach out to those who are poor in spirit and recognize their need for salvation. The swaddling clothes remind believers that Jesus came into the world not in wealth or power but in the fragility of human flesh, perfectly fitting for the Lamb of God.