West Derwentside Catholic Partnership

Two thousand years ago while world history was focused on the power of Caesar Augustus -   Jesus was born, not at the centre of things, but at the far end of the Empire, in the Roman wiles of wanney, on the outskirts of society, because there was no room for Him at the inn. No one believed Jesus was the long awaited Messiah because he looked so ordinary. He didn’t live up to their expectations of a Deliverer and Mighty Saviour, especially when he grew up and started preaching meekness and gentleness. Even after His glorious resurrection nobody recognised him – and things haven’t changed much since. We too are constantly looking beyond the ordinary to find a miraculous Christ. We fly to Lourdes or Medugorje to see a spot where Mary might have cried but fail to respond to the tears shed in our own homes and communities. We pray for visions but seldom make time to watch a sunrise. We look for Christ everywhere, except in the place where the Incarnation took place – in our own flesh. God is with us, not to provide an escape route to heavenly bliss but to help us connect with the hearts of others so we can transmit His healing love. God is love and love is something that happens in ordinary places, at kitchen tables, in workplaces, in neighbourhoods. God came down from Heaven into ordinary life and invites us to meet Him there? Do you have any room at your inn?