3rd Friday of Advent

3rd week in Advent -- Friday                                 Luke 2:1-7

                                    The Innkeeper

Alas, the poor Innkeeper.  This hardworking businessman always seems to get the short end in the re-telling of The Story, doesn=t he?

AAh, the Innkeeper,@ people say with a sneer, with a tone of barely concealed contempt.  ASo busy, so taken with his paying customers that he hardly gives second thought to the woman in labor and the husband concerned for his wife and soon-to-be child!@  If this were a silent movie, we would hear the Avillain music@ as the Innkeeper enters the scene.

What were his motives?  What was going on in his head that Star-filled night?  Was he a cruel man, hardened by years of being ripped off by con artists Ain need?@  Was he just too busy, or too greedy to care?  Was he a kind and benevolent man who was really troubled by his ANo Vacancy@ sign?  Whatever the situation, whatever his insides said, at least credit the man for figuring out some way to help.  He may have helped out of compassion, or perhaps only begrudgingly.  But the point is clear . . . he helped!

Despite the fickle nature of our feelings, may we help those in need at least as much as did that Innkeeper.

O God:

We sometimes serve you with joy and gladness.  Other times we serve you because we know we Ashould,@ even though we might not feel like it!  Help us to remember that your love for us doesn=t just come to us when we feel we deserve it, but it comes to us always.  In the same way, help us to remember to serve you, even when we don=t feel like it; in Jesus= name we pray.  Amen.