Luke 2:1-7 (CEV)
The Birth of Jesus
2 About that time Emperor Augustus gave orders for the names of all the people to be listed in record books. 2 These first records were made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 Everyone had to go to their own hometown to be listed. 4 So Joseph had to leave Nazareth in Galilee and go to Bethlehem in Judea. Long ago Bethlehem had been King David’s hometown, and Joseph went there because he was from David’s family.
5 Mary was engaged to Joseph and traveled with him to Bethlehem. She was soon going to have a baby, 6 and while they were there, 7 she gave birth to her first-born son. She wrapped him in wide strips of cloth and laid him on a bed of hay, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Whether we are ready or not, Jesus is here.
If we have room for him, or not.
If we have time for him, or not.
If we are prepared, or not.
God is here, born in the reality of our lives today.
Jesus doesn’t ask us to sweep out our lives before he will be born within us. He asks only that we find whatever space we can, and do not delay, because his birth (and rebirth) is imminent.
He doesn’t wait for a rapturous and well prepared welcome. He won’t turn down our humble, perhaps even slightly grudging invitation. He doesn’t ask for satin and velvet, diamonds and Dom Perignon. He’ll be born wherever.
All we have to do is make space for him. (p117)
Come, Lord Jesus, come
This year, several of us are reading Beginnings and Endings by Maggi Dawn and joining together to comment on it. Do join us at the Adventbookclub Facebook page, follow #adventbookclub on Twitter or comment below. If you are also reading and blogging on this book, let me know and I will link to your blog.
