Christmas Eve Reflection, December 24, 2024: "Making Room for Christ"

Author: Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
December 31, 2024

 

“Making Room for Christ”
A Christmas Reflection
Rev. Scott W. Cousineau

            A little over a week ago, the Church School children and youth told the Christmas Story during our Sunday morning worship service. The Christmas pageant is always one of the favorite services of the year. It is indeed special to see and hear them tell the Greatest Story Ever Told through their eyes and in their voices.

            Of course, the pageant story has to be edited for time considerations. We cannot spend a lot of time doing character development when you have a group of child shepherds whacking each other with their stuffed sheep! However, this evening I thought that we could spend just a few moments exploring a moment in the pageant that usually gets one … or possibly two … lines.

            I enlisted the assistance of a few of our choir members to present a little readers theater as go to the Inn With No Room.

            I also enlisted a member of the congregation to represent the crowd of folks trying to acquire lodging. He will be the representative of all of you! When it comes time to grumble, just try to think of that moment earlier this evening when you were searching high and low for a parking spot.

Let me introduce our players:
Vanessa Johnston … the Innkeeper
Phil Blood … the Census Taker
Jamie Beals … Joseph
Lynn Beals … Mary
Ellie Osborn … Betty … a guest of the inn.
Ryan Heller … Representing the Crowd.
And Tad Williams … our narrator … AND the author of this little drama.

            As our players gather around the microphone, let us imagine ourselves gathered around a radio listening to an old-time radio program. And then, as we are imagining … let us also travel back to the little town of Bethlehem, nearly two thousand years ago. The narrow streets are teeming with people making their way to the towns and villages of their heritage in order that they might be counted in the Roman census.

            Now … let the story unfold …

[The cast reads “The Innkeeper’s Chaos.”]

            “The Innkeeper’s Chaos” Written by Tad Williams

            Narrator: The scene opens in a bustling inn filled with guests. The Innkeeper is frantically running around.
            Innkeeper: (holding a clipboard, looking stressed) Welcome! Sorry, no room! Next! (looks at the crowd) Wait, we just had a family of five! How is that even possible?!
            Census Taker: (enters with a loud voice) Excuse me! Have you counted everyone? We need every single person for the census! (points to a random guest) You! What is your name?
            Guest: (nervously) Uh ... Betty Bartholomew … from the house and lineage of Bartholomew.
            Census Taker: (scribbling) Betty Bartholomew! Great! Next!
            Innkeeper: (interrupting) Wait, wait! Betty? You cannot stay here! I have no room!
            Census Taker: (looking at the Innkeeper) No room? You are a business, not a charity! Make room for the census!
            Narrator: Mary and Joseph enter, looking tired.
            Mary: Excuse me, good lady. We have traveled far, and we need a place to stay. I am expecting —
            Innkeeper: (interrupting, frantically) Yes, yes! I know! Everybody is expecting something! But I am all out of rooms!
            Joseph: (chiming in) Maybe we could share with someone?
            Innkeeper: (gasping) Share?! In this economy? With all these people? You must be kidding!
            Census Taker: (pointing at Mary) What about her? She is about to have a baby, right? Do you not have a heart?
            Innkeeper: (frantically) Yes! But where can they go?! The only place left is the… uhm… stable!
            Mary: (calmly) A stable? That is fine. We just need a quiet spot.
            Innkeeper: (sighs) Alright, I will make it work. (turns to the crowd) Everyone, I need your attention! We are converting the stable into a... uh, “cozy experience!”
            Narrator: The Crowd murmurs as they begin to exit …
            Census Taker: (enthusiastically herds off the crowd) Yes! Cozy! It will be trendy!
            Narrator: Innkeeper rushes off (with some from the crowd) to clear the stable. Mary and Joseph share a look of amusement.
            Joseph: (to Mary) Do you think they will have hay pillows?
            Mary: (smiling) He did say “Cozy” (They both chuckle)
            Narrator: The innkeeper rushes back, panting … and checking out the bottom of her sandals.
            Innkeeper: (hands on knees) Alright! The stable will be ready soon! Just … uh … watch your step. And do not mind the animals! They are part of the experience too!
            Census Taker: (excited) Fantastic! And while you are in there, let us count those animals for the census!
            Innkeeper: (throws hands up) Of course! Every sheep and goat counts!
            Mary: (laughing) Maybe we should all learn to make room for each other, just like you are doing for us.
            Innkeeper: (smiling) You are right. It is about kindness and love. And maybe a little chaos!
            Narrator: They all laugh together. As the Innkeeper leads Mary and Joseph to the stable. The Innkeeper addresses the audience.
            Innkeeper: (shouting) Remember, everyone! During this busy season, let us all make a little more room for kindness and love……. and maybe some hay!
            Narrator: Everyone cheers as the scene closes with laughter and warmth.

            Over the years, you may have seen pageants in which the innkeeper was depicted as a mean or heartless ogre. Of course, as I mentioned, typically the Innkeeper gets a single line. It is difficult to get a sense of the character’s mood or motivation in the story.

            This evening Tad gave us a glimpse of what it may have been. The poor innkeeper was frazzled … frantic. The emperor did not care where all of the people were going to stay when they got to the cities of the family lineage. The emperor did not care about them at all. He just wanted the count so that he could collect his taxes … the tribute for Rome. The innkeeper was trying to do the best that she could.

            Naturally, the crowd grew frustrated as well. Travelling for hours … and even for days … in order to comply with the decree from Rome. Weary and worn, they just wanted a safe place to get some rest.

            Bothered … busy … grouchy … grumpy … weary and worn from the road … and from work. No one was feeling like singing ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.’ They were much more likely to be singing, ‘You’re a Mean One, Mister Grinch.’

            As we gather here this evening, how many of us were feeling the same way?

            How many of us are feeling tugged, pushed and pulled in six different directions at the same time?
            How many are feeling the stress of work commitments and obligations?
            How many carry the burdens of worry and anxiety over the social, and political, and economic issues in our country and the world?
            How many are dealing with difficult family dynamics … or health concerns … or you name it?
            How many feel as though you barely get a moment of peace? Or rest? Or joy?

            Come to the manger. Peace is waiting there for you. Joy is waiting there. Love is there. The Child will say to you, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

            He came to show us how to live. He came to show us how to love. He came that we might know the Way of God … the Way of Love … the Way of Peace.

            Even as we sing about light and love and celebration, there are those for whom these are dark and difficult days. There are those among us who are mourning. There are those who are struggling to carry a heavy burden.         

            Hear again those words from ‘O Holy Night’:

            Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ‘til he appeared, and the soul felt its worth.
            A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

            The stars are brightly shining. Come to the manger. Make room for the Child. He is God’s Love. He is our Peace. He is our new and glorious morn.

            Come. Make room. Welcome Him home. Amen.

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