Is This It?

This December, a series of daily Advent, devotional postings is running from December 1st to December 25^th. Journey beside Mary, the Mother of God, as she waits for the birth of Jesus.

STRENGTH

Scripture: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

Quote of the Day:

Rejoice and be glad that so great and good a Lord, on coming into the Virgin’s womb, willed to appear despised, needy, and poor in this world, so that men who were in dire poverty and suffering great need of heavenly food might be made rich to him (St. Clare of Assisi).

Song Suggestions:
“Of All the Places,” by John Waller
“O Holy Night,” by Josh Groban

Questions: Do foul circumstances keep me from encountering Jesus? Do I recognize Jesus in the poor and lowly?

MIND:

Imagine Mary and Joseph who have just arrived in Bethlehem. Mary’s time is near and Joseph needs to find a place for them to stay.

Joseph’s eyes fall on a modest, but comfortable-looking inn. With a lamp on each side of the wooden door, it should be a fitting place. A man walks past the door, carrying a bucket of animal food or something of the like.

“Excuse me!” Joseph calls out, holding the rope to his donkey behind him. “Sir, I need a place to stay. My wife—”

“There’s no room here.”

“But sir—”

“We are full. We’ve got travelers from every corner of the earth staying here.” The man disappears behind the corner of the house.

Joseph glances back at Mary. He shrugs, trying to appear nonchalant. “We will simply go somewhere else,” he assures her.

Joseph pulls the donkey down the thin street. This is alright. Joseph tells himself. Perhaps a household will be willing to host them. Joseph’s eyes fall on the largest house on the street; two stories with a door of fine wood. The windows have nice shutters. Obviously, these people are able to afford fine carpentry.

Joseph knocks on the door. After a few more persistent knocks, a woman opens the door.

“I humbly beg you, my wife is close to her time and we are in need of housing. I ask that you kindly house us.” Joseph’s eyes are pleading. He didn’t imagine he would have to beg. “I will certainly pay you for your hospitality.”

“And if she gives birth under my roof? What do you expect me to do with a ritually unclean mother? Birth is messy business…”

“I understand,” Joseph starts, “But the inn down the street is full. If by the mercy of God—”

“No! Forgive me, but no.”

Joseph walks away. He needs a roof over their heads! “Pray,” he breaths to Mary as she sits uncomfortably on the donkey.

Joseph starts going to every home and shop, seeking shelter.

“You’ll have to stay in a cave or something of the like.” One man twists his lips, hidden beneath a bushy beard.

“A cave,” Joseph sighs, looking back again at Mary.

“Joseph,” she says, “Let’s listen to the man. Let’s go to a cave. It will be sufficient.”

“There are several of them just outside Bethlehem,” the bearded man says.

Joseph gulps and pulls the donkey as quickly as possible, through the streets of Bethlehem. The night is already heavily upon them. Mary needs her rest. He pulls the beast up a rocky, steep path at the top of a hill, where the black opening of a cave is in view.

“Almost there,” Joseph breaths, looking nervously at Mary. She gives him a serene look of confidence.

“Hello,” Joseph calls as they reach the entrance of the cave, aglow by a small fire. A poor man in raggedy clothes and dirt on his face is inside of it, surrounded by a variety of animals.

The foul smell of the animals and hay fills Mary and Joseph’s nostrils.

“My wife and I need a place to stay for the night,” Joseph says. “We were denied by all in town. Is there any chance you would permit us to stay here?”

The poor man looks up at them, pondering how he should answer.

“She is close to her time,” Joseph tells him honestly.

“Bring her in,” the poor man decides. “You can set her by the fire right here.

Joseph sighs in relief. “Thank you.” He helps Mary get off the donkey. The poor man comes to take the ass as Joseph leads Mary inside. “What is your name?” Joseph looks back at the poor man who guides the donkey inside the warm, dry enclosure.

“Eleazar,” the poor man says. “I tend the animals for my master.”

“And your master will not mind?”

“As long as the animals are cared for, I see no reason why not.”

“Eleazar, you are the first man to show us kindness this night,” Joseph tells him as he helps Mary sit down by the fire. Eleazar pulls their donkey toward the back of the cave and ties the rope on a wooden post, by the pen of other animals.

Joseph and Mary look around the cave. It is fairly large with a high, curved ceiling, giving plenty of room for moving around. There are surely many critters above and below them that they cannot see. However, the shadows that come from the firelight create a comforting feel for them. A few flies dance about. Joseph sweeps one off his shoulder. It flies away toward the goats in the pen behind them. One goat has its head stuck in a manger full of hay while another looks at Joseph and Mary as if wishing for something better to eat.

HEART

It is Christmas Eve and we are at the close of our journey. We know what happens next. Jesus is born this night and of all places, in a poor cave or stable.

When we reach the end of our journey, we might be disappointed. After waiting and waiting, we may look around us and say, “Is this it?” After all, we have been through joys and trials; wonders and puzzles; excitements and worries. Now, all we have is this poor little cave. And later, some poor shepherds will come and visit?

As we seek Jesus in our life, we need to recognize that our circumstances can be foul, smelly and dirty like that cave. Let us not allow our foul circumstances and surroundings to keep us from encountering Jesus.

If you are waiting for a child to be born, giving birth is painful. If you are waiting to finish schooling, studying is hard and time-consuming. If you are waiting for the pains of an illness to pass, even a cure or recovery will not stop other pains in life. If you are waiting for death, dying is painful.

Now, let’s not get so focused on the cave here, that we forget about dear Eleazar (who is a made-up character, but can represent any poor person—spiritually or physically). Eleazar is a Christ-figure here. Mary and Joseph recognize that the poor man is generous; the lowly one is loving. Though not God Himself, the poor Eleazar is a reflection of the poor baby Jesus—an encounter before the encounter.

As we seek Jesus in all circumstances, we need to recognize Him in the poor, downtrodden, and oppressed. We need to find Him in the foul, the smelly, and the dirty. Let us not allow unappealing appearances or actions keep us from encountering Jesus.

If you are waiting for your child to be born, encounter Jesus in God’s children around you; friends, family, and strangers. If you are waiting to finish schooling, recognize Jesus in the bullied, the lonely, the drunks, the awkward, the smelly, the obnoxious, the lazy, and the drug dealers. If you are waiting for the pains of an illness to pass, find Jesus in the sick, disabled, wounded, and homebound. If you are waiting for death, encounter Jesus in those dying physically, those dying spiritually, those dying mentally, and your own dying to self.

At the end of our journey, we might be disappointed with what we see. Our encounter with Jesus may be so lowly compared to the high awesome way we desired. But Mary herself tells us that the lowly become blessed, holy fear merits mercy, the lowly are lifted high, the hungry are filled with good things, the servant is helped, and the children of God live forever (See Mary’s Magnificat, Luke 1:46-55).

SOUL

Lord, you have looked upon my lowliness, and have blessed me (“For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness, behold from now on will all ages call me blessed” Luke 1:48).

Mighty One, have mercy on me, who reverently fears You
(“His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him” Luke 1:50).

God, throw me from my throne so that you may lift me up (“He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly” Luke 1:52).

Savior, I am hungry for You and am starved for Your Love. Fill me with good things. (“The hungry he has filled with good things” Luke 1:53).

Master, you have helped me, your servant. (“He has helped Israel his servant” Luke 1:54).

Jesus, according to your promise to my fathers, to Abraham, the Church, and her children forever. (“According to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever” Luke 1:55).

Mary, teach me how to wait.