I was in a class at church when a friend told about his trip to Bethlehem. He said that it was an amazing experience and that he kept picturing Mary riding on a donkey or ass being led by Joseph. He described her as being serene despite Joseph not being able to find a place for them to stay. Just before the class ended, the leader asked if anyone had anything else to say. I raised my hand, and said, “If I was nine months pregnant riding on an ass, and my husband could not find a place for us to stay, I would not be serene.” It got the desired laugh, but I was partially serious. Mary was very special.
Catholics believe that Mary was born without original sin. It is called the Immaculate Conception, and it is celebrated today. I have often remembered what my friend said, and I am not sure that he was correct about Mary being serene. We know she had an enormous amount of faith, but it is important to remember that even if she was without sin, it did not mean that she was without emotion.
Theologians speculate that she was only about fifteen years old, and while a fifteen-year-old in her time and culture was probably more mature than one here and now, it was still young. She was forced by politics and government to travel at the end of her pregnancy. She gave birth far from home without her mother or other close relatives nearby. She had her baby, God’s child, in a drafty barn or cave-like place. Yes, there might have been sweet-smelling hay, but it was a place for animals, so there were probably other odors that were not so sweet. I am more apt to believe that the serenity did not come until after Jesus was born. It must have been reassuring when the shepherds came and told of angels proclaiming the birth. Surely, the light from the star also reminded her that she was the mother of God; and later, when the Magi came with gifts, it must have been a comfort.
Fear is not a sin, but when we let fear keep us from doing what God wants us to do, it is a problem. Mary might have felt very afraid at many times, but she did what God wanted her to do anyway. Our lives are often not what we thought they would be, but if we can trust God the way Mary did, we will be all right.