
The Ultimate Stranger: The Growing Family
Luke 2:1-7 and John 1:1-14
Contributed by Rev. Brad Kenney
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. —Luke 2:11
The scriptures for this week tell of the arrival (adventus) of Jesus from two perspectives: an earthly migration and also a heavenly one. Luke’s Gospel lays out the conditions for Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem that is politically motivated and a heavy burden to the couple.
John’s Gospel, though, starts us in a different place. He begins the story at the very beginning. John opens our eyes to the larger migratory status of Jesus — not merely a regional transition, but a spiritual one. John even references the “slammed door.” Jesus comes to his own people but they don’t receive or accept Him. John’s text is more “metaphorical” — Jesus is the Word, the “True Light.” The passage ends with Jesus making “his dwelling among us” or, as Eugene Peterson paraphrased, Jesus “moved into the neighborhood” (see John 1:14, The Message).
There is often a Divine purpose to the disorienting and dislocating movements that occur in our lives — whether it is vocational, geographical, or otherwise. As followers of Jesus, we realize that these moments of displacement are often opportunities for God’s Gospel to change us and to reach to different areas and peoples.
But our texts today speak to the converse —Jesus is the Stranger, the Foreigner, the Alien, the Traveler, the earthy (and heavenly) Immigrant. In the incarnation, Jesus himself needs a radical hospitality.
For the church, there are three “arrivals” of Jesus. His incarnation as an infant child was the first Advent some 2000 years ago. We also anticipate His second Advent when the glorified Christ comes as Redeemer and conquering King at the culmination of all things. Soon, very soon. But it is the Advent in between these two which is most important and personal for us — Jesus’ “arrival” into our hearts.
This is where our practices of radical hospitality must first begin! All other expressions of hospitality, noble as they may be, will be meaningless without the deeper plan and purpose of showing hospitality first to the Christ! And this hospitality is “homely” because it is simply in our homes and hearts.
If you are like me, maybe you grew up criticizing the innkeeper of Luke 2 or watched some childhood pageantry that vilified (or romanticized) the lack of a place in the inn for Jesus. In truth, each of us serves as inn-keeper of our own heart. It’s not up to mom, or dad, or family member, or even our pastor. Each of us has the unique responsibility to keep a receptive condition in our hearts and lives for Jesus.
This Christmas season, and in every season, all of us, young and old, are invited to continually create a homely, radical hospitality for Jesus! As we make room for Jesus, we likewise make room by opening our hearts and our lives to “the least of these brothers and sisters” of His (Matt 25:40). It is a hospitality that makes “room in the inn” of our hearts and in our homes and lives. It is a hospitality that is intellectually curious to those who are different and that doesn’t slam a door closed to Jesus or to those around us. This hospitality will offer bread, offer a place to stay where stories are shared and common compassion is experienced. May we be a people for whom this hospitality is what we do.
Consider –
╬ In what season of life did you receive or extend the most meaningful moments of hospitality? Revisit this time. What were the characteristics that made this hospitality so significant to you?
╬ Think of one person in your neighborhood that is not like you. How can you extend hospitality to that person this next week, next month, next year? Ask God the Spirit to lead you and provide an opportunity to extend the hospitality of Jesus.
╬ Lord God, thank you for sending us your Son, Jesus. We will always be a people in need of a Savior. By your Spirit, help us to receive you today and everyday and to share your mercy and love to those you bring our way. In Christ. Amen.