The Fourth Sunday in Advent

Dear Friends in Christ,

Think back to the Christmas of 41. Not 1941, but Christmas in the year 41, 1,965 years ago. Mary would have been about in her late 50's .Surely She celebrated the birthday of her only son ( even though He was not with her in person), as we do today.Only back then , they did not call it Christmas even though it is the same celebration of His Birth.

It must have been a lonely day for Mary. She must have missed her Son. She must have missed her husband who was long since dead. No matter how many of her relatives may have been there in that little village of Nazareth, it was probably lonelier for her than some other days... just as Christmas today is often lonelier that some other days for people, who have lost their wife or husband, people who are divorced, please who do not have any family to speak of, for whatever reason, Christmas can be a lonely day.

Think about Mary, back in Christmas 41. She must have thought of those words spoken to her at the Visitation. " Blessed are you who believed that what the Lord spoke to you would be fulfilled"

When Mary heard those words for the first time, of course she believed. But it was a springtime kind of faith. It was filled with expectations. Summer was near and soon she would have her Son.

Now , years later when she was alone, she still believed, but it was a wintery faith because spring was not even in sight, let alone summer. Mary still believed, but it was just hard to believe.

No matter what I am feeling this Christmas. I can remember Mary and Christmas 41 and be with her and let her be with me too.

I wish you and all those you love and pray for a Happy and Holy Christmas.

Ed Bakker