Make Our Hearts A Crib for Jesus

As we celebrate Christmas, we are asked to open our hearts, to make our hearts a crib —a place to welcome and encounter Jesus. What does this mean? As we hear the Christmas story today, what effect does it have on us?
Perhaps we are like the shepherds, bubbling over with joy. We might identify with Mary, still trying to figure out what it all means. There is room for both. There is a depth and intimacy to Mary’s understanding of Jesus, whereas the Shepherds have perhaps only scratched the surface. Our faith and our relationship with God go through seasons. The ups and downs of life can take us by surprise, and we might find ourselves looking at things in a different way. When the flurry of Advent is over, Christmas has a way of stopping us in our tracks, giving us time to rest in wonderment and give thanks for God’s faithfulness in our lives. This is a time to sit with Mary as she treasures and ponders.

Tríona Doherty and Jane Mellett, The Deep End: A Journey with the Gospels in the Year of Matthew