Making Room at the Inn
"And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:7 NKJV)
In his wonderful book "Seven Stories of Christmas
Love" the author Leo Buscaglia writes about arriving in Hindu Bali on the
day before Christmas. The natives in the village of Ubud welcome him with
open arms and invite him to join in their feasts and celebrations.
At one point Leo mentions how happy he is to be with them at Christmas and
is asked by the natives, "What is Christmas?" Leo then tells them the
Christmas story about the birth of Jesus.
The villagers are entranced by the beauty of it, but one point confuses
them. Why did noone invite Mary and Joseph into their home? Why didn’t
anyone make room at the Inn for the pregnant mother about to give birth? In
their culture room would always be made for visitors.
Leo left a few days later with them still puzzling over why noone would make
room for Mary. That story made me wonder if I would have made room for
Joseph and Mary myself. Would I have opened my door to a homeless family
with nowhere else to go? Would I have shared my home and food with them?
Would I have seen to their needs, opened my heart, and put my selfishness
aside? Would I have been good enough and wise enough to share in the joy of
those frightened shepherds two thousand years ago? I just pray my answer
would have been yes.
Thankfully, even today God gives us the choice to make room for at the Inn.
At Christmastime and everyday we are given chances to open our hearts to
love, our lives to giving, and our souls to grace. With each fresh morning
we are given fresh opportunities to share our goodness, to help others, and
to make this world a better place. With each new dawn we are blessed with
another day to love the lest of our brethren as we love ourselves. When it
comes to the Inn of our souls there is always room for more love. Open your
door wide then. Make room.
And welcome God into your home with a smile.
By: Joseph J. Mazzella