AT A school Nativity play the lad playing Joseph was not happy, he wanted to be a king, not Joseph.
They get to the scene where Mary and Joseph arrive at the Inn and Joseph asks for a room
“There is no room,” said the innkeeper.
“But my wife is pregnant,” replies Joseph
The innkeeper responds,“ that’s not my fault.”
“It’s not mine either,” says Joseph.
The season of Christmas always seems to revolve around gifts, children, family, feasting and charity. These all stem from the Christmas story and point to a God who is generous to all and who brings joy into the world through the birth of his son Jesus. In the middle of a grey cold winter it brings light and joy – it is no wonder that the church adopted the earlier ancient festival of Yule, which also had the theme of joy, feasting and family.
The Princess of Wales reminds us the Christmas story is about ‘the importance of giving and receiving empathy’ and showing ‘how much we need each other in spite of our differences’.
One way of thinking about this is to simply put yourself in the shoes of others.
‘How would you feel if…’ or ‘What would you need if….’
There are voices that want to limit the ways in which we show empathy and love, but the Christmas story reminds us love is eternal and there is always a space for others.
The innkeeper responded to Mary and Joseph with the problem: ‘There is no room’ and then found the solution when he opened up his stable for them to use.
May we this Christmas open our hearts and minds to know the generosity and eternal love that flows from God and is poured out on all.
May we continue to be a source of love and joy to others
Have a blessed and happy Christmas.
Rev Ray Khan
Vicar of St John’s and St Andrew’s Churches.
