Isaiah 7.10-14                                                                                                                                                        Carol A. Solovitz

Luke 2.1-14                                                                                                                                                            Christmas Eve B

                                                                                                                                                                                December 24, 2005

 

A Mother Ponders

 

        [Mary sits at the manger and talks to her newborn son.]

Ahhh… it’s quiet at last.  Just you and me, little one. What a week we have had.  After our tiresome travel from Nazareth and the frustration of finding that there was no place to stay here in Bethlehem, then the excitement when I said, “The baby’s coming!” followed by the sheer exhaustion of everything catching up with us.  At last we have some time for reflection.  Joseph is out registering for the census and everyone else is back to their normal chores.

        And I am left to ponder.  The first and only thought I have right now is that of all women of all time, I am most blessed.  Even I have trouble believing it, but it is true.  Of all women of all time, I am most blessed.

        No, it didn’t always seem that way.  I am just a normal young woman raised in Nazareth, a little town no one ever thought about twice.  I was engaged to a fine man with a thriving carpentry business.  Nothing out of the ordinary had ever happened to me…

…Until that day when the angel visited me.  As I reflect on it now, I probably should have been more frightened, but I wasn’t.  Surprise is a better word for my reaction.  In a way, it seemed so ordinary.

But what the angel told me was not ordinary.  “The Holy Spirit will come upon you.  You shall conceive and bear a son, and he shall be the Son of the Most High.  He will sit on the throne of David.  He will be holy.  You shall call him Jesus.”

Oh, there were many skeptics.  They said, “That young Mary has a good story.  Does she honestly think we believe her?”  Even my betrothed, Joseph, did not believe me and was ready to break our engagement quietly.  After the angel visited him, too, he was convinced.  He believed the angel and me.  Joseph is a good man.  It was more fuel for the skeptics, though.  Now they said, “That young Mary has pulled the wool over Joseph’s eyes!  How can he believe her story?”

Yes, of all women of all time, I am most blessed.  I have a precious, perfect new son and a faithful husband who is devoted to me.

Oh, little one, little Jesus, you are stirring.  Come, let me hold you.  Let me look at you…You are perfect!  You have my mother’s big, brown eyes, and my father’s dark chestnut hair – lots of it.

Little son of mine, you are the most wonderful child ever born.  You are the child of God Almighty.  Oh, I know that ALL women think that their child will be the Savior of the world.  Although they may scoff at me, I know that it IS true of you, little Jesus.

Jesus.  We named you Jesus, as the angel directed.  Jesus…Yeshua… Joshua… It means “one who saves.”  Yes, little one, you will save God’s people.  You will reign over the house of Jacob forever.  Dare I call you Messiah?

        The prophet Isaiah said Messiah would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  You will be called many names, but only I can call you My Son.

        What does this greatness have in store for you? 

…Joy           …Fame   …Power    …Many faithful friends

But also

…Sorrow   …Stifling Crowds        …Curses   …Enemies

 

        Oh, how I wish I could spare you the pain of your greatness!

        Yet, as I said to the angel, I say again to you, my Son, “Let it be with me according to your word.”  I will feel your joy and your sorrow, yet you will have to walk that road alone.  I cannot bear your pain for you.

        You, however, will bear my pain for me.  You will bear the pain of all people of all time.  Isaiah also told us that Messiah would suffer for the sins of all.  That tells me that you will bear my pain.  Oh, I would gladly endure the birth pangs again if only I could spare you this fate.  Still, you also must do according to the word of God.

My little one, already you have attracted crowds of on-lookers.  You’re only a tiny baby born in a humble cattle stall, but I hear that shepherds are on their way to see you.  They say an angel and the heavenly host told them to come here and see the newborn Savior.  It is said that Wise Ones are coming from the East, following a star that announces the birth of a new king in Israel.  We are Jews under the powerful thumb of Rome, yet it is said that Messiah will be stronger than Caesar and will free us from the domination of human powers.

        Are you truly the one who will do that?  You are so small, so vulnerable, but so strong with promise and possibilities.  I pray to Almighty God that you will realize the hopes and dreams of all of us and that someday, somewhere – perhaps in every part of the world – people will gather to rejoice that our God has descended into our dark world through you, a tiny baby – vulnerable, powerless, and at our mercy  - with your mercy.

        Sleep now, little Jesus, and let us keep these secret thoughts to ourselves.  The world will know soon enough, and I will have to share you and your love.  Still, I will always know that of all women of all time, I am most blessed.    (Kiss)