What we can learn from Mary this Christmas

Amidst the joy of this Christmas season, perhaps we can be forgiven for being a bit excessive in our celebrations. Maybe we indulged in a little more food than usual, or were a bit “tipsy” from that extra glass of wine we drank. And why not? While many limit the celebration of Christmas to a single day, we Catholics understand that the Incarnation is too profound a mystery for such a brief celebration. Besides being a much-needed escape from the craziness of 2024, our Christmas celebrations reflect the truth that God, our Emmanuel, is intimately close to us even now. But amid all the merriment and busyness, it's easy to forget to pause and truly reflect on this mystery.

Consider how the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Immaculate mother of our Redeemer, may have been overwhelmed by the wonderful events surrounding Jesus's birth. The Annunciation, her cousin Elizabeth's miraculous pregnancy, the difficult journey to Bethlehem with Joseph, and the shepherds' humble adoration of her newborn son – it must all have been a lot to process for this new, young mother! Yet, amidst all this, and with an awareness of what was to come, she demonstrates a remarkable composure that we should seek to emulate. From her, we learn that despite our busy schedules and commitments, only one thing is necessary (Luke 10:42): the contemplation of God. Saint Luke tells us:

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).

During this Octave of Christmas, the Church invites us to contemplate the birth of Jesus within the sobering context of his eventual death and the sacrifices of the early Christian martyrs. Yesterday, we celebrated the feast of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Today, we remember Saint John the Evangelist, who stood beside the heartbroken Virgin Mary at the foot of the cross. Tomorrow, we will remember the Holy Innocents, the children whom King Herod brutally murdered in his quest for the Christ child. These feasts remind us that the wood of the manger of Bethlehem ultimately leads to the wood of the cross of Calvary. But rather than being overwhelmed by the weight of these truths, we are called to follow Mary's example: to ponder these truths, to hold them gently in our hearts.

Many saints have highlighted the importance of contemplation. Saint Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church, wrote the following about contemplation:

“I have often thought with wonder of the great goodness of God, and my soul has rejoiced in the contemplation of His great magnificence and mercy. May He be blessed forever! For I see clearly that He has not omitted to reward me, even in this life, for every one of my good desires.”

We may never fully grasp the mysteries of God, especially the miracle of the Incarnation, in this life. However, by reflecting upon them, we can draw closer to Him, even during this hectic holiday season. As we continue to celebrate Christmas, let us think about Mary. She can teach us how contemplating her newborn son helps us to “be caught up through him in love of things invisible” (from the Preface of the Nativity).