People of the First Christmas: The Virgin Mary

Welcome everyone to the first post in this mini-series where I’ll be looking at some of the people who participated in that first Christmas about two thousand years ago. In this week’s blog post, I’d like to examine one of the central characters, the Virgin Mary.

As a Roman Catholic, I deeply admire the extraordinary woman of faith that Mary is. However, for this post, I’ll focus solely on the biblical accounts of her life, rather than delving into later traditions. While such traditions are good, they don’t help us understand the woman God the Father chose to become His Son’s earthly mother. With that being said, let’s examine three pivotal moments in Mary’s life that are central to the Christmas story:

1. The Annunciation of the Archangel Gabriel: The moment when Mary receives the life-changing news of her divine mission.
2. The Visitation to Elizabeth: Mary’s encounter with her cousin Elizabeth, a moment of joy, revelation, and shared faith.
3. The Nativity in Bethlehem: The fulfillment of the prophecy and the birth of Jesus Christ.

Imagine, if you will, a time long ago. The Promised Land, once a beacon of hope, now groans under the weight of Roman occupation. A people yearn for the Messiah, the long-awaited deliverer. In the quiet town of Nazareth, nestled in the hills of Galilee, lived a young woman named Mary, a descendant of the royal line of David. Her life was about to be forever changed. 

Mary, a young woman of Nazareth, was going about her daily routine when a startling interruption shattered the quietude. A radiant figure, bathed in celestial light, appeared before her. The man, a messenger from heaven, announced a divine mission that would forever alter the course of human history. Let’s turn to the biblical account to delve deeper into this extraordinary event. According to the Gospel of St. Luke, chapter one, we read: 

And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”[b] 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”[c] 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[d] will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Let’s ponder Mary’s response. Despite her initial confusion, she didn’t shy away from questioning the angel. Her honest inquiry, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ reveals her humility and desire for understanding. Yet, when she fully grasped the divine plan, she responded with unwavering faith: ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’

Like Mary, we too are called to embrace God’s plans, even when they seem impossible. Her example teaches us the importance of both questioning and accepting God’s will in our own lives. By questioning what we think is God’s will, we can truly discern His divine plan and avoid being misled by worldly desires.

After the astonishing encounter with the angel, Mary wasted no time. She set out for the hill country of Judea, to the home of her elderly cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth, miraculously pregnant with St. John the Baptist, was also carrying a child of divine destiny. As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the unborn baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, exclaimed, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!’ Mary, filled with the Holy Spirit, responded with a beautiful prayer, now known as the Magnificat: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is his name…’

Mary’s visit to Elizabeth offers profound spiritual insights. Let’s delve deeper into the significance of this encounter. Elizabeth’s proclamation, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!’ (Luke 1:42), is a powerful affirmation of Mary’s divine role. This clear declaration from Scripture leaves no room for doubt about Mary’s unique position as the Mother of God. Mary’s visit to Elizabeth also serves as a powerful example of gratitude. Despite the life-altering news she had received, Mary responded with praise and thanksgiving. Her Magnificat, a beautiful hymn of praise, reveals her deep faith and trust in God’s plan.

After the shepherds visited the newborn Christ, Mary continued to ponder the extraordinary events unfolding before her. As Luke’s Gospel tells us, she ‘treasured these things in her heart’ (Luke 2:19). She likely reflected on the shepherds’ awe-inspiring encounter with the angels, the humble circumstances of Jesus’ birth in a stable, and the kindness of the innkeeper who offered shelter to the holy family.

As we celebrate the birth of Christ this Christmas season, let us follow Mary’s example by pondering the wonders of God’s love. May we, like her, treasure the blessings in our lives and strive to serve God with all our hearts. May we, too, be open to the unexpected ways God may call us to serve Him.

Want to learn more about the other fascinating figures of the first Christmas? Be sure to follow my Ko‑fi page to stay updated on future posts in this series. Your support, no matter how small or what type, helps me continue creating content that inspires and uplifts. Thank you for your continued support!