Mary of Nazareth is undergoing a series of very trying experiences. She is pregnant under questionable circumstances. She is traveling a great distance on the back of a mule while pregnant. She is being forced upon this trip late in her pregnancy by an emperor who wants more tax money from working people. She and her husband are not able to find any lodging once they arrive at their destination. She is not in a house but rather in a barn for animals when she goes into labor. She and her baby are cared for by persons she does not know, shepherds. What is Mary’s response to all these very trying experiences? “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”
Mary’s response is quintessentially that of a peacemaker. She can live in the midst of difficulty and nurture love. She can reconcile the seemingly irreconcilable; ugliness and beauty, hardship and joy. She can bring harmony to that which is disconcerting. Most disconcerting for any person is to not be in control. Yet women embody the ultimate loss of control when they nurture the life of a another human being within them. Mary’s power, every pregnant woman’s power, is to embrace the changes happening to us while we give our lives over to another. Can we be touched by the difficulties surrounding us and not be overcome by them but instead bring new life to birth. Can we, like Mary, know our power within turmoil and be focused on bringing forth peaceful change. Can men especially understand their own internal power to be impacted by difficulty and bring forth new life? Mary’s difficulties do not immobilize her nor does she set herself against anyone or anything. She is free of the warmaker’s fears that reduces them to a flight vs. fight reaction. She is free for the peacemaker’s courage that enhances us all toward creative, life giving responses. Peacemaking does not happen because we finally have enough protection. Peacemaking is never the result of that one final war that ultimately vanquishes all threats. Peacemaking happens when we no longer feel the need to wage war, against ourselves or anyone else, and we are instead willing to be impregnated by love, filled with the mysterious unfolding of life.
“Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright. Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child. Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.” (Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht – Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr)
Prayer: Source of All Peace, may we be like Mary, treasuring heartaches and joys as we nurture the courage to give life and spread peace.
Question: What is peace?
January 1, 2017 Gospel Luke 2:16-21 Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God