“Later in his life, I bet the Innkeeper wished he'd made more room than he thought he had for Jesus. Me too.” (@bobgoff (Twitter)) I saw this on my twitter feed and it caught me off guard.
The innkeeper is such a small role in our Nativity. But the one who placed Jesus in the manger because there was no room for them in the inn.
Christmas & Hospitality are intertwined.
Las Posadas
Christians in parts of Mexico, Latin America and those who have migrated to other countries celebrate Las Posadas nightly beginning December 16 and ending December 24. Las Posadas is a liturgy of hospitality and commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, searching for lodging for the birth of the Christ Child. Las Posadas begins as an outdoor procession. Traditionally, two people dress as los peregrinos (the pilgrims), Mary and Joseph, or images of Mary and Joseph are carried in the procession. Along the procession route, certain houses serve as “lodgings.” At each house, those inside sing to those outside, denying them entry. At the final stop, the los peregrinos are recognized and invited into the home. (from BOS)
The final refrain from the traditional song:
¡Entren santos peregrinos!
¡Reciban éste rincón!
Que aunque es pobre la morada
¡Se las doy de corazón!
¡Cantemos con alegría!
¡Todos al considerar!
¡Que Jesús, José y María
nos vinieron hoy a honrar!
(Come in, holy pilgrims!)
(Receive this corner!)
(Because, even though the place is poor)
(I offer it to you from my heart!)
(Let's sing with joy!)
(Everyone at the thought!)
(That Jesus, Joseph and Mary)
(Came today to honour us!)
Such hospitality and love remind me of a story…
Trouble at the Inn by Dina Donahue
For many years now, whenever Christmas pageants are talked about in a certain little town in the Mid-west, someone is sure to mention the name of Wallace Purling. Wally’s performance in one annual production of the Nativity play has slipped into the realm of legend. But the old-timers who were in the audience that night never tire of recalling exactly what happened.
Wally was a child with special needs and he fancied the idea of being a shepherd with a flute in the Christmas pageant that year, but the play’s director, Miss Lambard, assigned him to a more important role. After all, she reasoned, the Innkeeper did not have too many lines and Wally’s size would make his refusal of lodging to Joseph more forceful.
And so it happened that the usual large audience gathered for the town’s yearly extravaganza of crooks and creches, of beards, crowns, halos and a whole stageful of squeaky voices. No one on stage or off was more caught up in the magic of the night than Wallace Purling. They said later that he stood in the wings and watched the performance with such fascination that from time to time Miss Lambard had to make sure he did not wander onstage before his cue.
Then the time came when Joseph appeared, slowly, tenderly guiding Mary to the door of the inn. Joseph knocked hard on the wooden door set into the painted backdrop. Wally the Innkeeper was there, waiting.
“What do you want?” Wally said, swinging the door open with a brusque gesture.
“We seek lodging.”
“Seek it elsewhere.” Wally looked straight ahead but spoke vigorously. “The inn is filled.”
“Sir, we have asked everywhere in vain. We have traveled far and are very weary.”
“There is no room in this inn for you.” Wally looked properly stern.
“Please, good innkeeper, this is my wife, Mary. She is heavy with child and needs a place to rest. Surely you must have some small corner for her. She is so tired.”
Now, for the first time, the Innkeeper relaxed his stiff stance and looked down at Mary. With that, there was a long pause, long enough to make the audience a bit tense with embarrassment.
“No! Begone!” the prompter whispered from the wings.
“No!” Wally repeated automatically. “Begone!”
Joseph sadly placed his arm around Mary and Mary laid her head upon her husband’s shoulder and the two of them started to move away. The Innkeeper did not return inside his inn, however. Wally stood there in the doorway, watching the forlorn couple. His mouth was open, his brow creased with concern, his eyes filling unmistakably with tears.
And suddenly this Christmas pageant became different from all the others.
“Don’t go, Joseph,” Wally called out. “Bring Mary back.” And Wallace Purling’s face grew into a bright smile. “You can have MY room.”
Some people in town thought that the pageant had been ruined. Yet there were others—many, many others—who considered it the most Christmas of all Christmas pageants they had ever seen.
Later in his life, I bet the Innkeeper wished he'd made more room than he thought he had for Jesus…
May that be never said of us and our hearts. May we make room for Jesus to have place in our hearts today.
Amen.
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