This night more of our family arrives for the holiday, it begins the house will fill with a reunion of many of our family who are looking forward to joining together for the first time in many years.
Not all reunions are always under so happy circumstances.
When Mary and Joseph were traveling to Bethlehem, it was her last month and her body was heavy with the impending delivery of her baby. Any woman who remember their own pregnancy, knows how very uncomfortable a trip that must have been for them.
Joseph’s journey to the place of his forbears was not to reunite with family or to enjoy a historical review of the homeplace of his ancestors. It was, instead, a meeting for the sake of the taxman, in service of his homeland’s oppressors.
The influx of so many countrymen at the same time, for the same reasons, probably led to a grumpy atmosphere, where no one much wanted to be there and certainly no one was in a charitable spirit.
It was in such a condition that Jesus came to be born of Mary.
The Inn was full.
Patience and compassion for the small family’s needs were in short supply. At least, someone begrudgingly allowed them a corner of the stable.
Why does God often choose such inconvenient times? Such inhospitable places? What do such events often highlight about our sacredly held assumptions about our own goodness and charity?
Perhaps that is only a side effect. The real purpose of such an appearance in our lives is to testify that no matter where we find ourselves, or what difficulties surround us, He is there.
God came to earth to let us know he is there for us.
We share a reflection of that love as we join in our own joyous reunions during this holiday.
Scripture:
Luke 2:
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Carols
The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy
