The Padre’s Column

Observation Post, Volume 1, Issue 32, 24 December 1942, Page 3

The Padre’s Column

NO ROOM IN THE INN. “And Mary brought forth her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke, 2:7. In all the literature of the world it would be hard to fintj, another sentence ds simple and as dignified, yet conveying a message of such tremendous importance for all mankind. It seems strange that the event which marks the great dividing line of history should be related in so few words and with such telling beauty—just one sentence yet it contains the full story of the coming of One beside whom the greatest men of all time pale to insignificance. EXPECTATION AND REJECTION. For many centuries the Hebrew people had looked forward with eager expectation to the coming of a great leader. They longed for One whose advent would deliver them from suffering and oppression, and would give them freedom from bondage to a foreign power. He would come with dramatic suddenness, and Israel would rise and follow Him. The ancient glories of the nation would be restored; and the Kingdoms of the world would do homage before Him.

That was the expectation and hope of the Jewish race, but it was not fulfill- ' ed. Instead of coming in such manner ! as to attract the attention of everyone, the. event passed almost unnoticed; so much so, that ordinary lodgings were denied the Mother and her Babe. The j Messiah had been awaited long | enough, but when He came the best , shelter that could be found for Him was a stable. One is inclined to wonder sometimes what would have happened if the innkeeper and his guests had known who it i was who sought shelter for the night. Nothing would have been too much | trouble, and all would have been zealous ■ of the honour of having some association with the event that was to have such profound influence upon the world. But they did not know, so no one eared very much. At a time when so many people had come to Bethlehem for the census these strangers were. lucky enough to have a roof ovdr their heads, even if it was only the roof that sheltered the oxen. 1942. Of course, all that was nearly 2000 years ago. The people of Bethlehem had no way of knowing that the unwanted guest was the Son of ‘ God. But we know more than they did. With our knowledge of Him we would not think of denying Him, a shelter under our roof.— would we? We may feel- that the innkeeper was I sadly lacking in courtesy, that the I other guests were selfish in the extreme in not offering their rooms for the Baby. But the fact remains that the tragedy of Christ’s rejection is repeated over and over again in our day. ! The extent of the chaos in the world is the measure of man’s refusal to make room for Him. Time and again He is pushed aside to find shelter in some unwanted corner, out of the way of “more important” things. THE NATIONS. Take this matter of international affairs. In the past any suggestion that Christ and His principles had anything to do with the relations between one country and another has been regarded as fantastic. The major issues are those of territory and trade. Agreements between the nations have been formulated through considerations of experience, or of commercial advantages. The questions of right or wrong, of justice, of the needs and welfare of others —matters which rest ultimately upon Christian principles have been ignored. The attitude has bfeen that all these are well enough in their place, but they are not sufficiently practical. We are paying the price to-day, and it looks as if the so-called ‘‘practical’’ considerations are so impractical as to lead inevitably to chaos and misery. We are paying the price for giving no room to Christ in the affairs of the nations. WORK. And so in our work and our business. What has He to do with commerce? — Everything, yet so often He is rejected there.' “ Business is business. ” Give consideration to others if it means greater profit, but if it means a lower return it must not be considered. That is the common feeling. Yet Christ condemned competition' in which each sought his own advancement to the detriment of others. He taught His followers to place service above self in every department of life. The competitive system that we know is absurd. It means injustice, waste and strife. Christ’s way is rather that of co-operation, each rendering his service to the common good. INDIVIDUAL LIVES. Of course, all these are great ideals. They are utterly incapable of fulfilment while there is no room for Christ in our individual lives. If we neglect Him personally, we will

never do more than pay lip service to Him, nor will we give Him any place in our daily work, or in the affairs of the nations. So the key' to the world’s tragedy is this, that men and women have no room for Christ in their hearts, and in rejecting Him they shut out One who comes to give that inward peace and joy that can be experienced only in companionship with Him. Though Christ a thousand times In Bethlehem be born If He’s not born in thee Thy soul’s forlorn. It is Christmas time of festivity and joy, because Christ was born, but our celebration is a hollow mockery unless there is room for Him as our honoured guest in the inmost sanctuary of our hearts. That you may know the joy of His coming is the Christmas greeting of your Padre. • ,