The months leading up to this journey were filled with shame, humility, fear, doubt and at times confusion. Mary had been given news of her purpose in God’s plan of salvation. She accepted the task with wonder. Even though she had faith that God was using her for this mission, there were so many outside influences that must have affected her. With each month, having the Son of God growing within her, created wagging tongues and stories of indiscretion on Mary’s part. Even her betrothed husband had his doubts until an angel appeared to him revealing God’s plan for his part in the story. The couple accepted what was about to occur with faith that the long-awaited Messiah would come through that child.

As they prepared to make their way to the town of their lineage, Bethlehem, they were about to take a journey that would change the world forever. It wasn’t a big town, but it was bursting at the seams when people entered from all over the country to be counted for the census. Imagine a little farm community with a small town for people to gather and do their trading. I suppose some people camped outside of the town, some probably stayed with relatives and others went to the local inn for a room.

For Mary and Joseph, it had been a tiring trip. The distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem is less than 100 miles, but can you imagine what they endured on that trip? Many say it would have been virtually impossible for a nine-month pregnant woman to travel so far on the back of a donkey. They also claim that because Joseph was a Jew, he would not have allowed Mary to travel with him at this time of her pregnancy. They would have to pass through country where their enemies, the Samaritans lived. They may have met up with bandits or all kinds of seedy characters, but they were on their way to fulfilling the prophesies laid out many years ago.

Why did it happen this way? I guess if you knew that you were carrying the Son of God in your womb and had been told exactly what to do by a Heavenly messenger, you would follow the directions to the letter. The angel told Joseph what to do and in an act of complete faith, the stepfather of Jesus, listened. Mary also must have been in much pain and discomfort, but she leaned on the breath of God to carry her, rather than the animal she sat on.

Mary and Joseph were on their way to fulfilling God’s plans for humanity. Through the two of them and their common faith, they were able to complete the task – not because they were better than any other human beings, but because God had planned this way back in the Garden of Eden.

Lord, I yearn to have such a strong faith. I can’t survive without your assistance and guidance in my life. Please strengthen my trust in you through your Holy Spirit and the birth of your beloved Son. Help me to realize the magnitude of your plans and purpose for my life and help me to learn something new each day from your gift of Christmas. Amen!