And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)
By Rev. Chris Brouillard-Coyle
THE STORY is familiar. The image is regularly depicted in beautiful, sanitised ways.
Around the world people gather on Christmas Eve and sing about sleeping in heavenly peace. It is as though somehow by the presence of this newborn child the scene becomes transformed into something so sacred and holy that the animals and their byproducts are not an issue. You might even think that a manger is somehow an ideal setting for a child to be born. Those who do, should spend some time in a barn.
The story is familiar. Still, despite what the music, art, Christmas cards, pageants and movies suggest, there is value in recognising the message that ‘there is no place for them in the inn’ means that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are pushed aside. They aren’t given the dignity of a place to inhabit that is normative. They are offered little more than what is left over – a space that might provide a bit of warmth and security, but at the cost of their dignity and comfort. Mary’s pregnancy doesn’t provide any advantages. And yet, we can infer that there are those who assume Mary and Joseph should feel lucky to get a roof over their heads. After all, beggars can’t be choosers.
There is value in hearing this truth in this story because it can invite us to reflect on all of the ways we repeat this act with people today. How many people today are pushed aside? How many are not given the dignity of a place to inhabit that is normative? How many are offered little more than what is left over? How many do not get any advantages based on their circumstances? How many are told they should feel lucky to have whatever they have regardless of its quality?
Some two thousand years after Mary gave birth to her firstborn son in humble circumstances there are still individuals whom the world pushes aside and tries to make invisible. How many have heard or seen via social media complaints about the amount of space and resources taken up by refugees and migrants by people who have little understanding or compassion for the journeys these individuals have undertaken? How many demand that people living in poverty, especially those who are unhoused, should be forced to be out of sight, leading to the dismantling of encampments? How many support legislation that promotes the erasure of diversity, equity, and inclusion particularly in relation to gender identities? How many ignore the harsh inequities of Reserves simply because these are out of sight?
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)
The story plays out in different ways, but the realities of being pushed aside, having ones needs devalued, and being made invisible continue for far too many individuals. This is why we continue to need to hear this story again and again paying attention to details. God, in Jesus, comes into the world on the margins. God meets God’s beloved children in those places of invisibility. In so doing God makes visible what is otherwise invisible and invites us to do the same.
As we walk through this Advent season – how can we better pay attention to the invisible people? What more can we do to make visible that which the world has sought to make invisible? How might we participate in the transformation of God with us this year?
May we not only make a place for Jesus in our hearts this season but transform our spaces into mangers that truly welcome and include those whom the world would prefer to push aside so that the Marys, Josephs, and Jesuses of today know that God continues to be with us transforming hearts and our world. Amen.
Rev. Chris Brouillard-Coyle is a co-chair of SEJH.