Christmas is a birth story tied into not having a home. In
Luke’s Gospel, Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem, because there was no
room at the inn. Jesus’ parents had traveled there because of the demands of an
imperial census. Empires need to know how many people there are under their
control so that they can more effectively tax them.
In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus is born at
home, but the holy family had to quickly flee after his birth to avoid the
slaughter of the innocents ordered by King Herod. Herod wants no threat to his reign, which was
carefully crafted to keep the Roman Empire happy. Prophecies of the birth of a
coming king had unnerved him. So the holy family fled into exile in Egypt.
Birth
stories and not having a home, something our guests at Manna House can easily
relate to. So, this past week I talked with guests about their births.
“Where were
you born” I asked, and, “Did the angels sing when you were born?”
The first
question was easily answered. The second provoked many memories, some painful,
some joyous, some a mixture of both.
“I was born
here in Memphis. My Mom was fifteen. I don’t know if the angels sang or not. It
wasn’t easy for Mom. I try not to think about it much.”
“I was born
in Arkansas. My Daddy was murdered when I was one. Our house burned down when I
was two. My Momma saved me. She ran into the house and wrapped a quilt around
me. I was burned pretty bad. I don’t know if the angels sang when I was born,
but they were there that day, making sure I didn’t die.”
“I was born
in Frayser. Did the angels sing? I guess so. I was told my parents were happy
when I was born. My Dad worked at Firestone. He made good money. When it closed
it got all different.”
“I was born
in Memphis. Grew up right here. Been here my whole life. I don’t know about
angels singing but my parents loved me while they were still alive. I lost them
both when I was still a kid.”
“When I was
born the angels sang, because God loved me then and now. But I was given up for
adoption. Sometimes I feel like I have no family. I won’t be home for
Christmas. I’ll be in a shelter.”
Jesus’ birth story perhaps means a
little more to those who are close to the edge. They have yearned as much as
anyone for love and for home and for acceptance. They know life is fragile and
so is love.
We talked
some about how the angels sang when Jesus was born, but he did not have an easy
life.
“That’s the
way life is; hard.”
“He was
like us even when we are not much like him, you know, about sin.”
“I never
thought much about how we’re like him. Mostly I’ve been told he’s above us,
being the Lord and all.”
“’Fear not’
the angel said. Good advice for Mary and Joseph and for Jesus and for us,
especially now.”
“You know
what God was trying to say in Jesus? I’m with you and won’t ever let you go, so
don’t let others go. That’s it.”
Merry
Christmas from Manna House.
