On the outside, this Advent and Christmas might not look like what we hoped. Yet, we can take comfort knowing that the very first Christmas probably didn’t look ideal either. I doubt Mary was excited to travel to a distant town where she’d be away from her mother, cousins, and friends when she gave birth. It was disheartening to hear there was no room available at the inn. Mary likely didn’t envision giving birth to the son of God in a cave.
Despite the hardships, we see Mary’s great faith from the moment we meet her in scripture. Even though God’s will for her was unexpected and confusing, she gave her “fiat,” her yes to God’s plan that she bear his son. Rather than puffing herself up, deeming herself too important to serve, she immediately took a journey to see her cousin Elizabeth, trusting that God would protect her and her unborn child. It was as if she couldn’t bear to wait nine months to share the gift of Christ’s incarnation!
From the moment Mary arrived, the visit was one of great joy. “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirt, cried out in a loud voice and said, ‘Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb’” (Luke 1:41-42). Likewise, we sense Mary’s joy when she says, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior” (Luke 1:46).
In All the Generations, a collection of Advent reflection from Blessed is She, Blythe Fike writes, “Mary had to see with a divine vision that could reach beyond her human experience. And I’m no different. In the little contradictions of each day, in the way things go sideways, and even in the way things go wrong, our Lord is asking me if I’m willing to see beyond what I can see, and to give him the yes that will ultimately lead me to Home.”
This Advent season, may we remember Mary’s example and see beyond what is in front of us. Remember that where Christ is, there is joy. Just as Mary offered her body to bear the son of God into the world, let us offer our hearts. No matter who is with us or where we are this year for Christmas, we can be joyful and confident that Christ’s will is being done in us.