DVENT III

December 15, 2024

“Finding Our Way Home”

  “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. . . . And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed, who was with child.”   (Luke 2:1, 3-5)

     When the emperor of Rome declared there should be a census – or enrollment – there was no convenient form mailed to the citizens of the empire.  Rather, heads of households and their families had to go to their ancestral homes, which is why Joseph and Mary were on the road to Bethlehem.  Never mind that it was a long, hard journey, or that a baby was on the way — the emperor had decreed it, and there was no other option.

     Arriving in Bethlehem, their problems continued, as the town was filled to bursting with other descendants of David, and there was quite literally no room at the inn — or anywhere else, for that matter.  Finally, an innkeeper offered them a bit of shelter from the elements, and in a stable that was far from clean or comfortable, in a strange and lonely place, this young couple became parents, adding another generation to the very long line of “the house and lineage of David.”  

     If you want to see how meticulously Hebrew families kept track of their ancestry, look at the first 16 verses of the first chapter of Matthew.  Starting with Abraham, all are identified, including Jesse, father of King David.  That’s why Jesus is called the “branch of Jesse” in the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”  Their identity was closely tied to their ancestors, as generations through the ages taught and spoke of those who had gone before

     We live in a nation of immigrants, a remarkable assortment of people from every nation around the world.  Being able to account for multiple generations is the kind of thing you might see on “Finding Your Roots” where professional researchers access a wide variety of records.  Many of us are descendants of people who set out for a new country with few possessions, not knowing for sure what they were going to encounter and what kind of reception they would receive.  When I think of going off into such uncertainty,  I can hardly imagine the courage and determination – and maybe desperation – needed to make that decision.

     Journeying along the Advent road to Bethlehem can have its challenges, as many of us have multiple “to do” lists, are planning to travel or host company, and a myriad of events and tasks.  But we can take a few minutes to reflect on the wonder of God’s great gift to all humanity.  And with Mary and Joseph, we’ll seek shelter, search for a safe place, and welcome the newborn King into our hearts and lives.  We may not be descendants of the same ancestral branch, but we are, every last one of us, children of the same heavenly father, and we are always welcomed home.

Secure in the love of God’s family,            

Your friend in Christ,

Mary Rogers