No Room in the Inn

MEDITATION FOR—DECEMBER 23RD

“And it came to pass that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled. This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: Because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his espoused wife, who was with child. And it came to pass that when they were there, her days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born Son, and she wrapped Him up in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2, 1, 7).

First Prelude: Behold Mary and Joseph on the way from Nazareth to Bethlehem—hosts of angels accompanying them.

Second Prelude: Grant, O Divine Saviour, that the nearer I approach to the great day of Thy bountiful Nativity, I may excite a more ardent desire and prepare my heart with greater zeal for Thy advent by the practice of virtue and fidelity to my vows.

FIRST POINT

MARY AND JOSEPH GO TO BETHLEHEM

The heavenly Father willed that His well-beloved Son should be born in poverty and lowliness. He, therefore, ordained that Caesar Augustus issue an edict, in consequence of which, Mary and Joseph should go to Bethlehem. This apparent necessity served but to cover our Blessed Lord’s desire to suffer, His humility, His patience and His love of holy poverty. Such love He infused into the heart of His holy Mother, who, though poor, had to undertake a long journey despite the inclemency of the season, and to suffer many hardships. But she endured all with patience, even with cheerfulness for her heart was occupied solely with her Divine Saviour, her only treasure. At times she interrupted her silence to converse with St. Joseph, but it was only to speak of divine things. Difficult and precarious as their journey was, nevertheless, the thought of their Divine Child made them esteem all sufferings as naught.

Oh, that we would imitate the wonderful example of the Holy Family on this journey! Jesus willed to be born not in Nazareth, but in the course of a journey, to teach us that we have no lasting abode here below, that we must seek our home in heaven and detach our heart from all earthly affections. Mary and Joseph teach us how to keep Jesus, our sole Good and highest Treasure, and for love of Him gladly to leave all else. Well may they have felt keenly the privations attendant upon their sojourn in a strange place especially for the Divine Child! But they divined the ineffable designs of God and realized that nothing less than total detachment and absolute contempt of all earthly things was worthy of their God.

Do I seek nothing in this world but to resemble my Divine Model? Do I often call to mind that I am a stranger on earth and that my home is in heaven? Does my zeal in the observance of poverty mark me as a worthy child of the Holy Family?

SECOND POINT

MARY AND JOSEPH FIND NO SHELTER

The gospel tells us that Mary and Joseph found no room in the inns. Enjoying their comfortable homes, the wealthy of Bethlehem suffered the Son of God and Saviour of the world to seek in vain for shelter in His own city and family. Oh, if the inhabitants had known the strangers, if they had known that there was a question of giving shelter to the long-expected Messiah, with what reverence and exquisite joy would they have welcomed Mary and Joseph to their hearths!

The painful mystery of Bethlehem is still recurring in our day. Jesus finds shelter in only a few hearts, because so few wish to receive Him. He is the Lord and Master of the whole world, and yet with His Mother and St. Joseph He must seek refuge in a poor stable. Like a weary traveler, Jesus even now incessantly knocks at the door of our heart saying: Open to Me, My beloved, open to Me and admit no stranger; open to My love, empty your heart and expand it, I will replenish it. I have traversed the whole world and found naught but refusals and insults; do you open to Me that I may enter and find recompense with you for the coldness of men.

Oh, let us rejoice that the Saviour will come and dwell in our hearts! Let us reserve for Him not only the best place, but our whole heart; for though He despised neither the stable nor the manger, He will disdain to enter a divided heart. Let us also rejoice in the happiness furnished us in our holy vocation of harboring and serving the Saviour, Himself, in the person of the children and the poor according to the promise of Jesus: “What you have done to the least of My brethren, you have done unto Me” (Math. 25, 45), and “He that shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth Me” (Math. 18, 5).

Affections: What a sublime example of virtue dost Thou set me in Thy journey to Bethlehem, O Virgin Mother of my Saviour, and thou, her purest bridegroom, St. Joseph! What humility and obedience do I admire in you! Ye have truly imbibed the spirit of Jesus; love of poverty and seclusion has captivated your hearts. Oh, let me hasten to Bethlehem in your holy company, to behold the wonders of the Most High! Let me share your ardent love, your fervor. Divine Saviour, behold we are preparing for Thy gracious advent. Thou shalt not first knock at the door of our hearts to beg admittance; no, we entreat Thee, come into our hearts, watching and expecting we stand at the door until Thou comest! Oh, yes, come soon that Thou mayest no longer be our Emmanuel, but also our Jesus, our Saviour. With all the ardor of our soul, we cry to Thee: “O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the expectation of the Gentiles, and their Saviour, come and save us, O Lord our God.”

Resolution: I will often today be mindful of the presence of God, and by numerous acts of humility, meekness and patience prepare a worthy resting place in my heart for my Divine Saviour.

Spiritual Bouquet: “They found no room in the inn.”

Prayer: O Jesus, living in Mary . . .