Advent: A Coming

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7



 (Keep in mind that the birth of Jesus as well as much of his ministry took place outside of any church setting.)

The story is simple: Joseph is a carpenter and Mary, his fiancee, is about to deliver her baby. She was told by an angel that this baby is a Holy child, the Son of God. They are to go to Joseph's home town to register for the tax. After a long and tedious journey on a winding, dusty road, the couple searched in vain to obtain shelter at any of the local inns. But there was simply no place to stay.With every inquiry came the same response, “No room.”

The weary and desperate couple finally found rest among some simple farm animals in a small stable, probably something like a lean-to, or a crude cave in the hillside. The animals voiced no objections, but allowed the couple in and witnessed the birth of the Christ child. Their gentle demeanor proved the perfect setting for the Holy One, the Lamb of God, to be brought forth. This is recorded history and no mere fairy tale.

In the fullness of time, God sent forth his son. Galations 4:4

Within each of us exists a similar place, an ideal place for the birth of the babe, awaiting our invitation to enter, in spite of how unkempt and odorous. No need to cleanse the dwelling, he will do that upon entering. No need to pretend in this place, no airs to put on, no hiding the raw desires to feed and survive. 
It is to this sort of place that the Christ child comes – the place where we truly live – deep in our hearts where we whisper things not meant for others to hear, things that reveal an uncertainty that cuts to the core. A place where shadows leave us wondering if what we see is true.

Remember John the Baptist - what was it that he said?  "Are you the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?" There is a doubt that nags, that restrains us, that holds us bound like prisoners, even while we see the prison doors fling open. It is from this bondage that Jesus came to free us, yet we continually disbelieve it, relegating the reality of God among us to that of a fairy tale. Can we change? Dare we? Perhaps this year...