“The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High…” (Luke 1:30-32).In the Iona Community resource Cloth for the Cradle, Mary ponders, “who am I to be the mother, to give my womb at heaven’s behest, to let my body be the hospice and God the guest?”
What a thought! The Christ child arrives through the hospitality of Mary’s womb.
Yet, Mary is not alone in this hospitality. The child is also welcomed by Joseph’s choice. If Joseph had dismissed a visibly pregnant Mary from the engagement—even “quietly”—mother and child would have been at risk of death by stoning.
Mary shelters the child with her body, risking her life. Joseph shelters the child with his honor, risking his name. Both shelter the Christ with their obedience to God.
So, I take another look at those Christmas cards and ponder the manger scene and I wonder... How will we be obedient to God and take up the selfless welcome that marked the Advent of our Lord?
Blessed God, guide us as we seek to embody the welcome that Mary and Joseph gave to your son. Give us grace to be a people of selfless invitation in an inhospitable world. Amen.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment