Mary and the First Christmas

I wanted to keep Christmas truly holy this year especially the twelve days before the event which usually become so hectic.

So I began reflecting on the major people involved in the Christmas story, the first Christmas ever. And then branched out to the subsequent players who proclaimed Jesus’ real Presence, speaking of His birth and Resurrection throughout the world. I thought there must surely be lessons for me today.

The experience has been amazing. Such strong, determined individuals who risked their reputations and all the world’s attachments, and sometimes even life itself to live as people of God.

Joyful Christmas Reflections is the result. Twelve stories, twelve days. I pray you’ll be blessed by these thoughts as much as I have.

To God be the glory. He lives!

So here's Day Two Mary and the First Christmas

Mary

Mary, words fail when I think of you. Holy are you, mother of the One through whom all things were created.

Comfort of all who are physically motherless. At times when I felt motherless I always found solace in Your reality. You are inspiration to all who need spiritual mothering.

Willing to endure shame and scorn to nurture your Savior in your body -fulfilling the plan of God.

May I be willing to embrace rejection and derision as well for carrying Christ within my soul. And for the moments I’m brave enough to birth Him into a sometimes hostile world.

Your courage came from confidence that the angel spoke truth – incomprehensible, yes, but solid fact.

I can only imagine how you felt – not proud , not eager to tell of your amazing selection, but turned inward with awe,

As your response reveals. “How could it be that Our Lord should choose me?” And petition, may I do this incredible thing expected of me well, “be it done unto me according to His word,” so that my Lord is fully glorified. Isn’t that what we all want with our lives?

Wait you did, wait I must, for love’s great work to become complete. For the birth process is operative within each of us to spiritually bring Christ into our needy world.

And when things didn’t turn out as you’d hoped?

Mary, what an example of trust you are. There’s no recorded message of you crying out “No. Stop. Take my son off that cross!” Or beating on the chest of his attackers.

May we accept altered expectations and look to God’s perfect plan daily.

Luke 1:30-35

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”