A Christmas Guest

This story should be familiar; there are several versions of it. This is my version:

Ezra Wellington had just settled down to a simple supper when there was a knock at his door. He hurried to answer, wondering who might call on him.
A rush of cold wind and snow blew across Ezra as he opened the door, revealing a well dressed messenger. He handed Ezra a letter of fine parchment. Ezra wished he had a penny for the messenger – surely such a young man was used to payment from the rich masters he must serve – but Ezra had very little in this world. However, the fine young man simply bowed and parted.
Ezra shuffled quickly to the fire for its warmth and light. He didn’t recognize the beautiful crimson seal; he broke it with curiosity and read:

My dearest Ezra,
I wish to come and dine with you tomorrow night. You have always been so kind, I know you will welcome me with warmest regards as your guest.
Your Friend,
Jesus Christ

Why would the Lord pick a host such as me for His Christmas Day meal? Ezra wondered. He had very little offer – no servants to wait on the Lord, no other company to offer the Lord and very poor accommodations in which the Lord would eat. However, Ezra was resigned to offer the Lord the best he had.


Christmas dawned bright and cold the next morning. Ezra took his few coins and bought a small goose. He spent his day preparing a meager but fine meal and preparing for the Lord’s visit.
As the hour drew nigh, Ezra opened his door to see if he could anticipate the Lord’s arrival and saw a thin young woman, bowed against the cold and clutching her pregnant stomach. She looked at Ezra pleadingly, but she seemed reluctant to speak. Ezra thought the woman looked frail and weak despite her swollen middle. He hesitated but a moment before asking the young woman inside to share of his food. The young woman warmed herself by the fire and took a portion of his meal. With bright tears, she thanked him for his kindness but said she would not ask more of his generosity and went her way.
Ezra was glad he could help but hoped the Lord wouldn’t mind smaller portions. The Lord’s time of arrival had come, and Ezra paced back and forth as he waited, nervously hoping the Lord might accept what he could give.


There was a knock on the door. Surely He is come, Ezra thought. But on the other side, Ezra found a crooked old man with naught but thin rags to shield him from the December winds.
“Please, sir,” pleaded the beggar. “Would you have a penny to spare?”
Ezra had used what little he had on his humble Christmas feast, but he could not turn away the poor soul. He invited the man in and gave him a portion of his meal. He hoped the Lord wouldn’t mind eating alone; there was a portion left for only one.
Ezra gave the man his only spare waist coat to grant him some barrier against the cold before the beggar went his way, leaving with a grateful, “God bless you, sir!”
Ezra felt ashamed. He truly had a poor offering for the Lord. He hoped the Great Master would still accept him as His host.


There was another knock at the door, and Ezra slowly went to answer it. He was surprised to find it was not his expected Dinner Guest but a young boy. The boy stood with bare feet in the snow, his hair uneven and his clothes far outgrown. He started to sing, but Ezra could hardly understand the words through the boy’s chattering teeth. The boy sought a coin for his song, but Ezra, although reluctant this time, gave him what he could – the rest of his Christmas dinner and Ezra’s only good pair of shoes. The boy paid him many thanks, but Ezra was sad as he returned to his chair by the fire. He had nothing left for the Lord’s supper.
It seemed a long while that Ezra sat there, worrying what he would tell the Lord when He arrived. Ezra was startled from this reverie when there was a rap at the door.
He hobbled meekly to the door, afraid to face His Master. He was surprised to find the same messenger who came to his door the night before. The young man had another letter for Ezra Wellington. Before he could recover his senses, the messenger smiled and bade Ezra a Merry Christmas, disappearing abruptly into the darkening street.
Ezra broke the seal with a heavy heart, sure the Lord had found a more suitable host for His Christmas celebration.

My dearest Ezra,
Thank you so much for the wonderful meal, the waist coat and the shoes. I knew I could count on your kindness and generosity. I chose a good and faithful servant to visit this day of Christmas.
Love always,
Jesus Christ

His heart now light and full, Ezra recalled the words of St. Matthew:
“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
“Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
“When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
“Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
“And then the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me (Matt. 25:35-40).”