Summary: We have been invited to spend Christmas at Luke's house. Luke's house is not easy to find. The truth is more than a few folks will drive right by it and have no idea who is inside. You will have to make your way, as there is no public transportation in Luke's neighborhood. Other Gospel writers live more in the center of things, but not Luke. He's off the beaten path, way out on the edge of town. It's a simple place. You may mistake it for a family farm, like the ones that used to dot the American landscape. Hay is bailed to feed the animals. There are sheep grazing nearby. There's a real manger out back. It's not nostalgia. It's not a sweet part of the story. The manger makes Luke angry. There is no reason the world should not have made room for this baby. There are too many people for whom the world makes no room. Once inside his home, there's a tree in the corner decorated with ornaments that are handmade. Construction paper and glitter and such...there is an angel on top of the tree. The angel has a name, Gabriel. Names are important to Luke. And one of the most important names is Mary. That may be the most surprising thing about Christmas at Luke's house. We have grown so accustomed to the story, we need to remember that it's a bit surprising to hear this story from Mary. I can't tell you much about this young woman. Over at Matthew's house, they talk about Joseph, and they are quite proud of his heritage. They have gone on ancestry.com and can trace Joseph's family tree all the way back to Abraham.
