What Mary Thought About Christmas

I have heard my fair share of horrid arrangements of “Mary Did You Know?”, with all their vamping and belty vocals, yet each time I listen to the song, I cannot help but tear up when I think of that young girl in ancient Israel. I remember my own little babies, holding them close and kissing their squishy, confused faces. Nearness to a baby stirs deep feelings inside my heart—how much more would Mary have felt, knowing that “When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God?”

Probably only a year or two past puberty, Mary had trained her whole life to join a husband a start a family of her own. As her mother and father made preparations for her to marry Joseph, an angel appeared to Mary with a miraculous message: she would be blessed with a child immediately. But this would be no ordinary child. 

Mary may not have known the miracles her son would perform. She could not have foreseen his bloody death or glorious resurrection. But she did know the God who sent this Son into the world. When she celebrates her pregnancy with her cousin Elizabeth, she sings a song of praise for what God has done.

Today on a Christmas, I leave you to ponder what Mary knew.

And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

Luke 1:46-55