Still no room at the inn
“And Mary brought forth her firstborn 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).
PHOTO NOTE
The photograph here is one of the most widely published in 2025. It was taken in the completely destroyed Gaza by Abdel Kareem Hana of Associated Press. Hana is not only a superb documentary photographer, but a truly brave human being putting his life on the line to bring the truth to the world of the consequences of this one-sided war on Gaza. He was also given the International Photography Award in 2025 for his series “Children of Gaza: Surrounded by War”.
I have taken a great liberty in adding the small nativity scene here. But I do so to honour Abdel Kareem Hana and the children of Gaza, who have had to witness scenes of utter devastation they neither deserved, nor should have experienced, because of these war crimes.
______________________________________________
“Then Herod (the Jewish king), when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
“A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
(Matthew 2:16-18).
In the legend of the nativity of the baby Jesus, three wise men came from the East (perhaps Persia, and maybe even as far as India). They were astrologers who had read the signs in the heavens that a new king was to be born in Judea. As men of diplomatic note, the wise men found the Jewish king Herod and informed him of their desire to find this special baby to honour him. Herod told the men that when they found the babe they should inform him of the whereabouts so that he too could pay homage. But the canny wise men knew what the jealous Herod was up to and did not return with the news. As a result a slaughter of innocents took place throughout the region, and only because the angel of the Lord had warned Joseph did the holy family escape to Egypt so that the baby Jesus’ life was spared.
Most children in Gaza are born into Muslim families, and they are also taught to respect the baby Jesus. What many Christians don’t understand is that there are many references to the prophet Jesus in the Quran and they are all respectful and honour him (and believe in a virginal conception). Here is the account of the nativity:
“When the angels said, ‘O Mary, truly God gives thee glad tidings of a Word from Him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, high honored in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought nigh. He will speak to people in the cradle and in maturity, and will be among the righteous.’ She said, ‘My Lord, how shall I have a child while no human being has touched me?’ He said, ‘Thus does God create whatsoever He will.’ When He decrees a thing, He only says to it, ‘Be!’ and it is. And He will teach Him (Jesus) the Book, Wisdom, the Torah, and the Gospel. And He will be a messenger to the Children of Israel.” (Surah Al Imran 3: 45-49).
I am not going to make a speech here about the current sad state of our world at the Christmas of 2025. Anyone who thinks seriously and ethically about what it means to be fully human should understand these issues. And every Christian should ask themselves in the light of their Gospels, what would Jesus have me to think and do? But equally, let me warn anyone who dares to use that now inflammatory phrase showing up in reactionary rallies, “Christ is King”, that you are judged not according to what you think about Jesus, but how your life reflects his Truth. As the adult Jesus said so potently, “Not everyone who says they follow me does, for by their fruit you will know them.” Only those who do what Jesus instructed us to do (Matthew chapters 5-7) can be called his disciples. So if there is hatred in your heart, deception and violent thoughts, a turning of a blind eye to cruelty, a lack of care for the poor and the outcast, a rejection of the immigrant and outsider, a belief in the superiority of your race or religion, then please understand this: You are not of Jesus Christ!
For Jesus blessed the little children 2000 years ago, and in the same way today would bless every innocent child, and especially those that are being slaughtered in the name of some false religious and political ideals.
That tiny baby born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago, whose life was threatened directly by the then Jewish king, understands fully that every child - and especially those in war-torn regions - deserves the love and compassion of us all. If we can’t summon that in our hearts, then we are not ethical human beings created in the image of God. And may God have mercy on your soul.
Blessing and Peace to all the Earth, so that Joy may reign in our communities.
Still no room at the inn
“And Mary brought forth her firstborn 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).
PHOTO NOTE
The photograph here is one of the most widely published in 2025. It was taken in the completely destroyed Gaza by Abdel Kareem Hana of Associated Press. Hana is not only a superb documentary photographer, but a truly brave human being putting his life on the line to bring the truth to the world of the consequences of this one-sided war on Gaza. He was also given the International Photography Award in 2025 for his series “Children of Gaza: Surrounded by War”.
I have taken a great liberty in adding the small nativity scene here. But I do so to honour Abdel Kareem Hana and the children of Gaza, who have had to witness scenes of utter devastation they neither deserved, nor should have experienced, because of these war crimes.
______________________________________________
“Then Herod (the Jewish king), when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
“A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
(Matthew 2:16-18).
In the legend of the nativity of the baby Jesus, three wise men came from the East (perhaps Persia, and maybe even as far as India). They were astrologers who had read the signs in the heavens that a new king was to be born in Judea. As men of diplomatic note, the wise men found the Jewish king Herod and informed him of their desire to find this special baby to honour him. Herod told the men that when they found the babe they should inform him of the whereabouts so that he too could pay homage. But the canny wise men knew what the jealous Herod was up to and did not return with the news. As a result a slaughter of innocents took place throughout the region, and only because the angel of the Lord had warned Joseph did the holy family escape to Egypt so that the baby Jesus’ life was spared.
Most children in Gaza are born into Muslim families, and they are also taught to respect the baby Jesus. What many Christians don’t understand is that there are many references to the prophet Jesus in the Quran and they are all respectful and honour him (and believe in a virginal conception). Here is the account of the nativity:
“When the angels said, ‘O Mary, truly God gives thee glad tidings of a Word from Him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, high honored in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought nigh. He will speak to people in the cradle and in maturity, and will be among the righteous.’ She said, ‘My Lord, how shall I have a child while no human being has touched me?’ He said, ‘Thus does God create whatsoever He will.’ When He decrees a thing, He only says to it, ‘Be!’ and it is. And He will teach Him (Jesus) the Book, Wisdom, the Torah, and the Gospel. And He will be a messenger to the Children of Israel.” (Surah Al Imran 3: 45-49).
I am not going to make a speech here about the current sad state of our world at the Christmas of 2025. Anyone who thinks seriously and ethically about what it means to be fully human should understand these issues. And every Christian should ask themselves in the light of their Gospels, what would Jesus have me to think and do? But equally, let me warn anyone who dares to use that now inflammatory phrase showing up in reactionary rallies, “Christ is King”, that you are judged not according to what you think about Jesus, but how your life reflects his Truth. As the adult Jesus said so potently, “Not everyone who says they follow me does, for by their fruit you will know them.” Only those who do what Jesus instructed us to do (Matthew chapters 5-7) can be called his disciples. So if there is hatred in your heart, deception and violent thoughts, a turning of a blind eye to cruelty, a lack of care for the poor and the outcast, a rejection of the immigrant and outsider, a belief in the superiority of your race or religion, then please understand this: You are not of Jesus Christ!
For Jesus blessed the little children 2000 years ago, and in the same way today would bless every innocent child, and especially those that are being slaughtered in the name of some false religious and political ideals.
That tiny baby born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago, whose life was threatened directly by the then Jewish king, understands fully that every child - and especially those in war-torn regions - deserves the love and compassion of us all. If we can’t summon that in our hearts, then we are not ethical human beings created in the image of God. And may God have mercy on your soul.
Blessing and Peace to all the Earth, so that Joy may reign in our communities.