Here’s what we know about the birth of our Messiah:
A peasant girl becomes pregnant by divine intervention, and is not yet married to Joseph: scandal.
She’s undoubtedly afraid, confused, and likely more than a bit skeptical.
Whilst heavily pregnant, Mary’s bumpy ride for miles on a donkey takes her to a place she’s probably never seen before. Joseph descends from Bethlehem, aka, the House of David, the House of Bread.
The inn is full, so they are out in the middle of nowhere. Her cries in childbirth are heard only by Joseph and the animals in the smelly, cold stable.
An old wooden manger cradles her newborn son, our Savior — nothing but a child.
Shepherds, social outcasts of the day, suddenly show up after angels told them to come to see this newborn Savior.
Wise men appear from afar after following the Star of Bethlehem bringing gifts of gold for his support, frankincense as an acknowledgement of Jesus’ priesthood, and myrrh for his burial.
And then King Herod starts killing babies of Jesus’ age, so Mary and Joseph flee with him as refugees, and they go to Egypt under the cover of darkness after God advises Joseph in a dream to protect his little family.
Mary faces these events and many more for saying yes to being the Mother of God.
She pondered all of these things in her heart — a heart of love. Mary loved God and said, “Yes, I am the servant of the Lord, be it to me according to your word.”
Mary loved and nurtured Jesus and his ministry. How will we?
Consider the Song of Mary, the Magnificat
(Luke 1:47-55)
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm,
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
he has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his posterity forever.”
Try some lectio divina using the Magnificat (above) as your text. You may review how to do lectio divina by clicking here. Consider the reversal of fortunes predicted by this young peasant woman, this unlikely God-bearer.
I offer 3 of my favorite songs for Christmas Eve (sorry for the ads)
Ave Maria by Josh Groban
Who Comes This Night? by James Taylor
Nothing but a Child by Kathy Mattea
May Almighty God, of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar, of Jesus the Holy Redeemer, born of our Mother Mary, and the Holy Spirit who broods on the world as a mother to her children,
Bless+ and keep you now and forever. Amen
