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For Christians worldwide Christ’s birth is a profound reminder that God is with us, even in the most challenging times. In a world often marked by conflict and sorrow, Jesus’ birth not only is the promise of salvation, but also a call to live with unwavering hope and faith like Mary and Joseph did. Advent invites us to reflect on Mary’s journey. It started with the angel coming to ask Mary to do something remarkable… even unthinkable. She was asked to deliver a special child into this world. A miracle that would cause unending hardships. Yet, she said, ”O.k. - Here I am Lord, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”  WOW! I’m not sure many of us could respond like that without taking the time to really think about the consequences of this action. WOW! How many of us would even eventually say YES to such a numinous opportunity? For we are also on a journey of life and are asked to do remarkable things with the gits God has given us. We might not ask to carry the God child, but we are asked to live according to God’s will and love God and one another. This too, is difficult. We need to pray for guidance. This is something the Roman Catholic church does very well. The
Catholic church embraces Mary much differently than the Lutheran church. Mary is very special no matter how we look at her. Mary has inspired more art and music than any other woman in history. Even in the modern age she fascinates the imaginations of people of all faiths. In fact, Mary has appeared on the cover of Time magazine more than any other person.

Catholics pray to Mary. They believe that Mary (and the saints) are dead to this world, but they also believe they live on with God for eternity in the next world. They believe that their prayers are just as powerful now that they are in heaven—even more powerful—than they were when they were here on earth. They are essentially saying to them, “We have problems down here. You know what it’s like, because you’ve been here. Please, pray for us!” So, the pray to Mary for guidance in life as one who knows what it means to live. But, so does Jesus.

As Lutherans we pray directly to Jesus… the source of all life. But it doesn’t mean we can’t learn from some Catholic traditions such as the prayer rosary or prayer beads. We can use them as tools to talk to the saints… or directly to God. While I was in Italy last year, I purchased what is called a rosary ring. A rosary ring is worn on the index finger. The beads are counted by the thumb, which rotates the ring on the finger during the count. My ring has small diamonds that are like the beads of a rosary. To pray the regular rosary using the ring, we pray the initial prayers of the rosary - thenApostles; Creed, the Our Father, three “Hail Marys” and a “Glory Be.”  Now, since I don’t know the “Hail Marys” I simply use it as a prayer tool using each diamond as a different petition of prayer until I come to the other end of the ring which is a diamond cross. It is there that I end with the Lord’s prayer.

What Catholics believe about this woman is very simple: Mary points us to Jesus. How can Mary teach us how to pray? Let us listen to their story. Joseph beholds Mary as she carries the Messiah, and his face is radiant with love. And Mary? How gently and joyfully she carries the Hope of the World! And how tenderly they welcome us to join them, how their invitation to join them awakens in us great longing for the coming of Jesus. As we read about Mary and Joseph in the weeks to come, let us experience through them what it is to be poor, what it is to be without a home, what it is to be rejected. And yet we also experience in these trials a profound joy in the expectation of the One who is to come.

This week, day by day, let us silence our distracted hearts by focusing on Jesus, in the womb of Mary.  AMEN.