Listen

In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom.

Luke 2:1-7

Think

“Because there was no place for them.” Mary and Joseph struggled to find a place for Jesus’ birth. This sentence also describes vividly many of our living situations in our world today. These words still speak to us.

To my mind come many people who, for all sorts of reasons, are left out or simply don’t feel welcome. People with not enough money to buy things or to have equal access to health services, education, and work. People with disabilities who must struggle just get to places or participate fully in society. People in the LGBTQ+ community who are shut out from faith communities and even from their own families’ dinner tables.

Jesus is born and we need to rejoice with this great news. Jesus was born for all of us. For you and for me. For all those for whom society says there is “no place.” Let us hope that every living creature finds a place where God’s glory is revealed.

Ivette Linares-Rivera

Pray

Loving God, today I dedicate my prayer to remember all the people that I close the door to.

Let me see in them your image, so I can make space for them to enter my life and show me your glory.

I also pray that when I knock on the door, I can be offered space and feel fully welcome.

In your name I pray today, amen.

Go

Be glad in the Lord always! Again I say, be glad!

Philippians 4:4