Mary's pondering
Helen Weber-McReynolds, RCWP
January 1, 2023
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and World Day of Peace
Numbers 6: 22-27; Ps. 4; Col. 3: 12-17; Luke 2: 13-19
You are awakened by the first few rays of morning light coming under the eaves of the barn. Joseph and the baby are still asleep. The floor is hard, though Joseph did his best to provide a soft bed of straw last night. The weather is cold, but the body heat of the cattle and sheep in this crude, small building have helped take off some of the chill. Thank God you and Joseph were able to find it, after you could not find anywhere else to stay last night. With the baby coming quickly, you were desperate.
And now the baby you carried all those months is here, and he is so beautiful. The only bed you had to lay him in was a feed trough there in the barn. But lying there, so peaceful, so perfect, you are proud and hopeful.
The delivery was nothing like you had planned. You were caught short, the baby coming suddenly while you and Joseph were still traveling. Your whole betrothal and then this unexpected early pregnancy have been so sudden and unplanned—how did you come to this moment? What does it mean for the future?
You have been raised by your parents, Anna and Joachim, to understand that, as a member of God’s people, you have a responsibility to help bring awareness of God’s profound love to the world- to help spread justice and loving-kindness, especially to the poor, the migrant, the widow, and the orphan. All your life, you have rejoiced in God’s love and reveled in the beauty of God’s creation, treasuring your moments wandering the olive groves, wading by the lakeshore, and gazing at the stars in the sky at night. Though you never had the advantage of formal education, you have soaked up as much oral history of your religious tradition and memorized as much Hebrew scripture as possible. You know by heart the prayer of your ancestor, Hannah, and you love the parts about God lifting up the lowly and feeding the hungry the most. You have devoted yourself to prayer and Jewish teachings. You are determined to serve God. Your whole life has been one long “Yes” to God.
But you live in a land now occupied by the Roman Empire, where violence, cruelty, rape, and taxation enforce submission and poverty. The urgency of God’s message to help find justice for your oppressed community seems greater than ever. Rebellion seems to simmer just below the surface always.
You and Joseph have looked forward to marriage and starting a family. When God seemed to offer a less conventional plan, you still said “Yes.” You knew you were in danger, but you were not afraid. You have faith in the limitless love of God. After many months of prayer and reflection, with the support of your cousin Elizabeth, you have been inspired to believe that God has something very special in mind for your son and your little family. Just last night, some shepherds came to the door, saying they had a message from God that the baby born there had been sent by God to be the savior of his people, descended from the great king David. What does all this mean? What does the future hold for you, for Joseph, and, most of all, for Jesus?
With faith in God, you understand that the future will unfold as it will. But you resolve to help your son prepare the best you can. You say “Yes” to modeling God’s love for him, to teaching him God’s word, and to showing him every day how much God loves everyone. God has given you a precious, special son. Your life’s work will be helping him to live in God’s image.
The baby is starting to stir a little now. As you lift him from the manger, you whisper a prayer asking for God’s help in doing what is asked of you. This child is love and will be love. From this day on, you will teach him only peace.
Helen Weber-McReynolds, RCWP
January 1, 2023
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and World Day of Peace
Numbers 6: 22-27; Ps. 4; Col. 3: 12-17; Luke 2: 13-19
You are awakened by the first few rays of morning light coming under the eaves of the barn. Joseph and the baby are still asleep. The floor is hard, though Joseph did his best to provide a soft bed of straw last night. The weather is cold, but the body heat of the cattle and sheep in this crude, small building have helped take off some of the chill. Thank God you and Joseph were able to find it, after you could not find anywhere else to stay last night. With the baby coming quickly, you were desperate.
And now the baby you carried all those months is here, and he is so beautiful. The only bed you had to lay him in was a feed trough there in the barn. But lying there, so peaceful, so perfect, you are proud and hopeful.
The delivery was nothing like you had planned. You were caught short, the baby coming suddenly while you and Joseph were still traveling. Your whole betrothal and then this unexpected early pregnancy have been so sudden and unplanned—how did you come to this moment? What does it mean for the future?
You have been raised by your parents, Anna and Joachim, to understand that, as a member of God’s people, you have a responsibility to help bring awareness of God’s profound love to the world- to help spread justice and loving-kindness, especially to the poor, the migrant, the widow, and the orphan. All your life, you have rejoiced in God’s love and reveled in the beauty of God’s creation, treasuring your moments wandering the olive groves, wading by the lakeshore, and gazing at the stars in the sky at night. Though you never had the advantage of formal education, you have soaked up as much oral history of your religious tradition and memorized as much Hebrew scripture as possible. You know by heart the prayer of your ancestor, Hannah, and you love the parts about God lifting up the lowly and feeding the hungry the most. You have devoted yourself to prayer and Jewish teachings. You are determined to serve God. Your whole life has been one long “Yes” to God.
But you live in a land now occupied by the Roman Empire, where violence, cruelty, rape, and taxation enforce submission and poverty. The urgency of God’s message to help find justice for your oppressed community seems greater than ever. Rebellion seems to simmer just below the surface always.
You and Joseph have looked forward to marriage and starting a family. When God seemed to offer a less conventional plan, you still said “Yes.” You knew you were in danger, but you were not afraid. You have faith in the limitless love of God. After many months of prayer and reflection, with the support of your cousin Elizabeth, you have been inspired to believe that God has something very special in mind for your son and your little family. Just last night, some shepherds came to the door, saying they had a message from God that the baby born there had been sent by God to be the savior of his people, descended from the great king David. What does all this mean? What does the future hold for you, for Joseph, and, most of all, for Jesus?
With faith in God, you understand that the future will unfold as it will. But you resolve to help your son prepare the best you can. You say “Yes” to modeling God’s love for him, to teaching him God’s word, and to showing him every day how much God loves everyone. God has given you a precious, special son. Your life’s work will be helping him to live in God’s image.
The baby is starting to stir a little now. As you lift him from the manger, you whisper a prayer asking for God’s help in doing what is asked of you. This child is love and will be love. From this day on, you will teach him only peace.
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