As I reflect on the story of the birth of Jesus, a story that can often be told in such a way that we remove the reality of the situation, I have been conscious of what it must have been like for that young family.
Mary was away from her family, and likely her support network of women, especially her Mother Anne (her Doula??). Instead she was in Bethlehem, Joseph’s hometown. Because she was pregnant out of wedlock, they weren’t made welcome by Josephs’ family. They were shunned, not allowed to stay in the Upper Room with the family, but down below in the cave with the animals. I wonder how Mary and Joseph got through that birth, in a horrible environment with no support amidst the muck of the animals. There must have been moments where it was overwhelming and deeply frightening. There would have been lots of deep breaths in an environment where you wouldn’t want to breathe too deeply.
I can imagine while in that place, giving birth, perhaps a well-intended suggestion to “breathe” through the pain could have resulted in a more intense pain for Joseph.
This of course is my attempt to imagine the situation, and the truth of what happened is only fully known by those who were present. However, it is important to recall that this is not a fictional story but an event with real people. Like each of us they had lives that had occasions that needed some pretty hard breathing in order to deal with what was occurring.
We began 2020 struggling to breathe through smoke and fire, and then many have struggled to breathe as a result of COVID-19, which continues to have huge impacts around the world, and I know has touched the lives of many. We also have held our breath as we have been awaiting election results, and have had to breathe through the pain of isolation, separation, loss of work and so much more.
I know many are hoping to use this Christmas as a time to catch a breath, trying to heal hearts and minds for new possibilities in 2021. The truth is, however, that we don’t know what lies ahead. While we hope for better, we don’t have such certainty.
Mary and Joseph were not to know that they would have to escape Bethlehem and flee to Egypt in order to save the life of their child.
So my hope and prayer for you this Christmas, is that you do get a moment to take a breath, whether it is in order to deal with the pain that has been, or that which may come. Perhaps you might prayerfully invite the Holy Spirit, often known as the Breath of God, to come into your heart and your life. For it is in my experience this “breath” that truly does help when we face times of trial and difficulty.
The Spirit gave Mary and Joseph courage, peace, hope, love and joy. I pray those gifts upon you this Christmas, and that in your openness to receive them from Jesus, you might be able to face 2021 in the knowledge that whatever comes our way, new life remains possible – even in the hardest and harshest of places.
* Reverend Michael Armstrong is the Rector, All Saints’ and St Mark’s Anglican Parish of Hunters Hill
