Community Church Sermons

December 24, 2007

Christmas Eve –4:30 Service

“The Innkeeper’s Tale”

Luke 2:1-20

Rev. Dr. R. Tim Meadows, Associate Pastor

I am among the most maligned people in human history. Whenever and wherever my story is told, I almost always come off as a villain. The truth is they were not the only family I turned away that night. They were not even the only pregnant family I turned away there were at least a half a dozen others. What was I to do? How was I to know? Even if I had known who they were, who the baby was, I could have only accommodated them by putting someone else out. Is that what was expected of me?

Sometimes life is like that you know; there are things we would do differently if the circumstances allowed. In hindsight, with all of the facts accounted for, our vision is always clear, but in the heat of the moment, we have to do the best we can, given what we know, and that is not always clear or easy. My hope was that they would find some place to meet their needs, but honestly, I could not imagine where they would go. As with the others I had turned away, I felt helpless. Desperate to do something ----- but unsure of what that might be. What do you do, when you face these feelings of desperation?

In the hustle and bustle of the time, I had almost forgotten the event, until some days later, a rag – tag group of sheepherders passed by, laughing, joking, talking about angels singing, and their experience of the birth of a young child and his young family. What they said did not make much sense, but it seems that somehow their encounter with this young family had brought a sense of joy to their normally tedious life. They did not really explain how or why, but I suppose that’s the way it is with joy. We can’t always explain it, but we can be glad for the difference it brings, even if that is only for a moment. Joy always trumps sorrow and desperation.

I suppose my place in history will never be what I would want it to be. I expect that others will always interpret my acts negatively. I often wonder what some of my harshest critics might have done, had they been in my place.

My prayer for you this evening as you celebrate with those rag –tag sheepherders the birth that occurred in that young family, is that God May grant you confidence in making the life decisions you have to make. That God may grant you hope in your moments of desperation. That God may grant you joy to walk the exciting journey of life. Peace Be With You! AMEN!