Sacred Questions At ChristmasSample

 JESUS, WHOSE MOTHER WAS MARY

Begin by taking a few breaths and paying attention to the air moving in and out of your lungs and mouth. Notice where you feel tension or discomfort in your body. To the extent you are able, try to relax, let the chair you are sitting in fully support your body, and release the tension as you breathe deeply. 

A Prayer to Open

Here I am, Lord,

in my tired, aging, hurting, wondrous body.

Open my heart to you now.

You are my High Priest who knows.

Read Scripture Passage

Reflect

In this genealogy, Matthew makes clear that Jesus was born into a line of human beings—some we can read about in Scripture and some who are never mentioned. Jesus had a mother, and Jesus’ mother’s husband (Joseph) was in the line of David. Jesus’ father is, of course, Father God, the Creator. But what we rarely think about is whether Jesus looked like Mary, his mother. What attributes of hers did he have? What mannerisms? Might they have had the same laugh, the same hands? 

• What attributes and mannerisms do you share with your mother? If you are a parent, what attributes and mannerisms of yours do you see in your children? How do you feel when you consider the fact that you carry attributes of your mother and that your children carry attributes of yours?
• Reflect on the reality that Jesus has a body like yours—with eyes, a nose, ears, a mouth, smile lines, hands, and feet. What does this reveal to you about God’s love? 
• What does the truth that Jesus has a body like yours reveal to you about the care we are to give our bodies and the respect with which we are to extend to others’ bodies? 

Respond

Jesus Christ—

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace;

the one through whom and for whom all things were made; and

the one in whom I live and move and have my being—

you became flesh and made your dwelling among us. 

And nothing—neither death nor life, angels nor demons, the present nor the future; not any powers, height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation—can separate me from the love of our God, which is in you, Jesus Christ my Lord.