Think About This

As I was reading and studying last week, I came across a thought that has really shaken up the way I think about the trip Mary and Joseph made to Bethlehem.

Caesar had decreed that ALL the world would be taxed and that ALL the world was to return to the town/village/birth place of their fathers.

Joseph was returning to his family's birth place. With his very pregnant wife.  BUT -- so was every one else in Joseph's immediate and extended family.

It was a government enforced family reunion.

There were most likely relatives of Joseph that lived in Bethlehem.

Why were they not invited to stay with relatives?

Because Mary was pregnant with an illegitimate child.  She and her child were outcasts to the Jewish community.  She should have been stoned, not walking around "flaunting" herself in public.  Joseph agreed to be an outcast with her when he agreed to take her as his wife.

Even though there was most likely a caravan of family travelling to Bethlehem, they were not welcomed to travel with them.  There would be no family members attending the birth or the circumcision or the presentation at the Temple.

What should have been a great family event, was pushed under the rug by the religious, holy, right-living family members.

Gossip being what it is, and travelling as fast as it does, there may have been another reason there was no room in the inn for this young family.  What inn keeper would want his reputation tainted by housing outcasts?

It makes me think even more tenderly about Joseph and Mary.  They were not only willing to be the instruments of God, they were willing to take the punishment for being chosen.

Doing the Will of God is most times kind of scary, but we know it's the right thing to do.  How many of us would be willing to be thrown out of our families and communities because of it?