WE'RE well and truly into the Nativity play season. Have you been to one yet? Have you gone to watch your children, grandchildren or nephews and nieces play their part in the most charming drama of Christmas?

The children vie for the different roles in the drama. Who will be Joseph, or Mary? Who will play the shepherds or kings? Who will be the angels, or the animals? Sometimes it can be very competitive.

The Nativity play forms some of the fondest memories of our own childhoods. So let me ask a question. If you could have your time again, and you were taking part in a Nativity play rather than just watching one, who would you want to be?

Mary perhaps? To put on the simple blue robes, to rock the baby in front of the crib, to be the ultimate centre of attention. It is, after all the leading role – to be the one who shows their love for the child Jesus, and so represents everyone there.

Or Joseph? Yes, the lads might want to be Joseph. The most important man in the scene, caring for his wife with some tenderness (if not going quite so far as to hold hands, of course). Looking on with wonder at the new-born child.

What about a shepherd? Or a king? Lots of shepherds of course – and that's easy: a towel for a headdress and some old pyjamas, just about suffices. Rough and ready, the shepherds – that suits most of the lads. The ordinary working folk who come to worship their maker.

And posher people can be the kings – you have to be just a bit more clever. You have to carry important objects, and perhaps even speak, saying: "Where is the child?" and, "Follow the star" and remember to say 'frankincense' and not 'frankenstein'. It's the kings who remind us this baby is the real Lord of heaven and earth.

And the rest of the girls get to dress up as angels. Oh yes, I know that in the Bible angels are always male, but in a nativity play what lad wants to dress up in a white frock with a halo and wings? Give me an old towel any day. And so the girls serve as the angels, who bring the worship of all creation before its Lord.

And there are some other roles, especially for the also rans, the last ones to get picked for the team, the ones who can't be trusted to keep still or who could never remember their lines. They get to be sheep and donkeys, and if they are really naughty, the back end of the camel. In their humility they remind us of the humility of God himself.

So who would you be? Which role would you like to take on?

I'll tell you who I'd like to be – the innkeeper. Not because he gets to look after the beer – though that has its attractions. Nor even because his inn is undoubtedly a four-star trattoria of culinary excellence.

No. I'd want to be the innkeeper because he is the one who gives the Son of God his first earthly home. Simple, basic and makeshift at that. But a roof over his head, a home nonetheless.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and the innkeeper didn't turn him away or ignore him, or leave him for others to deal with. He welcomed him. Come, let us adore him.

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