Mary – a reflection
Mary
Mary is not simply a central character in the Christmas Story, but the emotional heart.
We journey with her; as she finds out she is pregnant, visits her cousin Elizabeth and ends up in humble surroundings where the Messiah is born. Even though the circumstances of the pregnancy and birth did not make things easy for Mary, we can feel her fear and anticipation mixing with her determination to do God’s will.
The woman that God chose might not, on paper, have seemed like the best fit for the role of mum to the Messiah. She was not an older woman, seasoned with life experience or blessed with riches, so Jesus’ birth was basic and uncomfortable. She was, however, the one who God had chosen.
In the ‘Magnificat’, Mary’s words of praise show a deep understanding of God’s plan and her place in it. She voices perfectly God’s strength, love and sense of justice and her part in making those things flesh and blood.
We can all draw great comfort and inspiration from Mary, who was honest with her fear. We too might be “greatly troubled” at the prospect of the plans God has for us, but we should feel no guilt for that response, humbly accepting that God sees potential in each and every one of us.
Like Mary, we must be open to being taught to see those around us as a blessing even in stressful times. Most of us would not have responded as well as Mary did when a squad of Shepherds turned up to visit her baby, but she treasured the words they shared.
Mary was a woman of courage, vision and wisdom beyond her years.
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