Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn (Luke 2:7)
Several of my friends had gathered after a concert, catching up on the latest news. Joan and John were very animated about a recent trip. John said, “Last month our family was on our way to Disneyland. We had traveled all day and happily arrived at our first night’s hotel. We would reach our destination the next day. There was a young family ahead of us who were begging the hotel attendant for a room for they also had been traveling, were tired, and one child was sick. But they were turned away because they had no reservation. We were so glad we were not them for we had a reservation, and we enjoyed our stay there—half-way through our journey.”
Upon reflection, I thought of the Christmas story in Luke. Was that what Mary and Joseph experienced when they were rejected? In our world of “me, me, me” it is so easy to dismiss the bad fortune of others and think only of our own comfort and needs. Too often when we read Luke 2:7 we say, “That would never have happened if we had been there! We would have found a place for the baby to be born—even given them our own bed…” Or would we?
When a community member, not part of our church, died, his family turned to the local church for a service and reception. The pastor put the word out that salads and cookies were needed to serve at the reception for these neighbors in mourning. A week later, a few days before the service, the email came. “We’ve only received an offer for one salad and one plate of cookies! Please help and bless a local family.” Once more we hear the words, “There is no room in the inn.”
At a time when homelessness is such a huge issue and the immigrant is scorned, we need to consider our role in finding solutions. These homeless and foreign ones are God’s own children. How will we respond?
God, forgive us when we turn you away by turning others away. Open our eyes and hearts to find ways to help and to be giving, loving people. Amen.