For all those who feel that there is noplace for them in the inn, youhave GoodNews:Emmanuel is with you!

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
—Luke 2:7

At this season, as we approach the birth of Jesus, our eyes are focused on Mary the mother of Jesus. What can such a mother tell her child? That he was born in an unexpected time and way, in strange settings, that he was bornand put in amanger becausethere was no place for himin the inn. Howjustwas the birth ofJesus?

Today, mothers living in conditions of injusticearound the worldunderstand well the struggle of Mary where people are not received well and aremarginalized. There is no place in the inn. The world has turned to aplacewhere many have no placefor themin the inn, whether it is the poor around us,or those who are refugees in foreign countries where they are discriminated against or countries that struggle for peace and have seen that they have are paying theprice for the greed of other nations and the power of other countries who believe thatthere is no place in the inn except for theirpeople andthe wellbeing of their citizens.There is noplace in the inn for nature itself that struggles out of human greed. There is no place in the inn for dreams of children where war has been their daily concern. There is no place in the inn of a just economy, but many become rich on the shoulders of those who are less fortunateand lost hope that they can have dignified life in their countries.

The salvation for the world came through a child who had no place in the Inn. It is a solidarity statement by the Lord Jesus whose birth started with exclusion, humiliation and unexpected birth in an unexpected place. Christmas is a time when the Lord Jesus opens our eyes for all those who are not invited to our tables, who feel on the margins. It is a time when Jesus challenges every one of us to the times that we told other people that they haveno place in the inn, whether it isinour neighborhood, or in our families and our daily life.

As the World Communion of Reformed Churches we strive to have a family where all feel they have a place in the inn. It is this journey that we call justice. It is a journey where we make sure that we do not exclude others and also strive to make everyone invited.It is a journey of solidarity with those who feel helpless and voiceless.

Today our source of strength is not because of the powerful, but of thepowerless;forthereChristisborn and the miracle of salvationhappens. Thereare the seeds of a revolution that changes the world. Our strength lies inthat Emmanuel is with us and with all those who are struggling.

Have a blessed Christmasfull of hope.

In Communion,

Rev. Najla Kassab

WCRC President