Focus Verse Luke 2:7
And she [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Having traveled slowly over these weeks with all of the characters of the story, suddenly ... I realize that Mary must have been terrified to give birth so far away from Elizabeth and her family, all alone with just Joseph and the animals to witness her pain.
And yet, I've been invited to see things a little differently. And I confess I just love to hear a perspective that blows up my small-minded convictions!. So ... just the other day (therefore this is an update from the written devotional) I read a fascinating article "Why Everything You Know About the Nativity is probably Wrong" by Sarah Bessey in which she quotes theologian and scholar Kenneth E. Bailey, who says, "Mary was absolutely not alone at the moment of birth. She was almost certainly and absolutely attended by skilled and present women, likely even community midwives." If you are interested take the link and read the article, which has much more to say about the very subject we've been pondering this Advent.
Meister Eckhart said, “We are all meant to be mothers of God ... for God is always needing to be born.” Living the Nativity can be a painful process but also a very beautiful one.
Reflection: How does God need to be born in your life? How are you being called to “live the Nativity?”
It is Christmas Eve, and I couldn't choose! If music is a spiritual pathway for you, listen to "Silent Night" followed by "Joy to the World" sung by Celtic Women Live At The Helix In Dublin, Ireland in 2013.
Prayer: Breathing “The Jesus Prayer”
Breathing in … Lord Jesus Christ
Breathing out … Have mercy
*pray by breathing this prayer repetitively until the prayer prays you. You’ll know the prayer is praying you when the words come to you at random times in random places. You will simply feel the words on your lips, in sync with your breathing. And you have begun the process of praying unceasingly through the power of the Holy Spirit! For more information about praying The Jesus Prayer, an ancient prayer form from the days of early Christian History, practiced by the Desert Mothers and Fathers, take this LINK ...
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