Jesus was born in Bethlehem. This is an aspect of the Christmas story that is universally known. However the gospel writers grappled with the issue of how Christ came to be born in Bethlehem. Jesus grew up in Nazareth. Hebrew scripture though had predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). St. Luke in his narration of the birth of the Messiah suggests that Joseph and Mary, although native to Nazareth had been at Bethlehem at the time of birth of Jesus. They were present at Bethlehem to participate in the census.
Emperor Augustus, the Roman Emperor of the time ordered a massive census effort within the empire. This required all the people to return to their ancestral towns. “Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child (St. Luke 2: 4-5).”
St. Luke’s account of the census of Quirinius has proved problematic for Biblical scholars from the early century onwards. Without delving into the accuracy of the account I would like to connect that event with the decennial practice of taking a census in United States.
2010 is the year for the next census. It is important to get an accurate count of those living in United States of America. An accurate count is important for the allocation of federal and state resources. Historically undercounted areas face the struggle of overcrowded schools and underdeveloped infrastructure.
The churches have a responsibility to exhort their congregants to participate in this census. It is often immigrant population which is reluctant to participate. We should realize that the census effort does not seek to discover the legal status of the person being counted.
Like Joseph and Mary let us make our effort to be counted in the next census.
