Thoughts

 In the quiet of the night, he stirred, rolling over once more. His head whirled as he sought to gather his thoughts and rationally navigate the circumstances he faced. His beard was untrimmed and his clothes still dirty from the labor of his craft as he lay flat on the bed, seeking rest. The man's mind was a maze of fear and faith, his conscience burdened in ways he never believed it could be. Eyes shut, he let the blackness of thought overtake him and dreamt. An image steadily formed in his mind's eye and began to gain clarity. A young girl, lowly, holding herself in quiet tears, knelt before him in the dark. As he saw her, his heart skipped, and compassion welled up in his chest, only to be struck down by a sudden purge of anger and betrayal. Just as his frown of empathy turned to pursed lips, the girl vanished like dust being stirred in a sunlit room. A fear echoed in his heart as the picture of the girl was vaporized. He felt empty and alone. Again, his dreams came upon hi...

Many women, celebrating Jesus' birth, see Mary's Holy Spirit-filled womb full, while their own remains empty. For those who are barren, rejoicing in Christ's lowly birth is like singing with a hoarse voice; neither the notes sound right, nor the strength to sing them is present. How do the barren celebrate the coming of The Savior when their highest desires remain unfilled? How do they honor the blessed mother, Mary, whom they long to be like yet seem so far from? The beauty of the birth of Christ is that He, Jesus, the God-man, fills the void of lack. For Joseph, He took the voice of confusion and filled it with confidence. For Zechariah, Jesus filled his mouth with words through the Holy Spirit. For the shepherds, Jesus took their quiet night and filled it with glory. For Mary, her empty womb was filled with the salvation of the world. Supposing there are many types of barrenness, the coming of Christ is profound because, like Joseph, Zachariah, the shepherds, and Mary, G...