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In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirin′ius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7)

 

Dear Siblings in Christ,

 

In Luke’s story of Jesus’ birth, we have a strange story that is filled with wonder, but it is also a story of people who are displaced and disoriented.

 

Our story begins with Mary and Joseph, betrothed, and miles from home.  She is nine months pregnant, carrying within her a child conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. And they are displaced by an edict of the Roman Empire. They are in Bethlehem so that they can be counted in a census and taxed. (The Roman Empire was so good at counting people, and so bad at caring for them.)  

 

And far from their home in Nazareth, the time comes for Mary to give birth, and there is no place for them in the inn, so they take refuge in a stable. Shivering in the cold, stumbling in the dark, on a dirt floor amidst the straw, Mary gives birth to her firstborn son, and they wrap him in rags, and lay him in a feeding trough, because there is no cradle or crib for a bed. 

 

It is a strange story when we realize that this is how the Lord and Savior of us all enters our world.  He comes as one who is homeless and he comes shivering in the cold and sharing our darkness.

 

Mary and Joseph had to leave home, to discover that their true home is not found in a place, but in God’s Son, Jesus. And Jesus continues to welcome us amidst our longings and our loneliness, and he calls us amidst our joys and our sorrows. Amidst all of our blessedness and brokenness, Jesus loves us and calls us to be his own now and forever.

This year, as we celebrate Christmas, let us remember that God’s love comes anew every day. Jesus continues to appear in the most unlikely places and he continues to love us here and now, and forever.

 

I hope that you have a Blessed and Peaceful Christmas! 

Pastor Richard E. Jorgensen, Jr.