The Virgin'

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The Virgin's Story
(Playing ~ "Silent Night")

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

We should never forget the real meaning of Christmas, which is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. This is, indeed,
a magical time of the year. The Christmas hymns and carols that I learned as a child are still the most meaningful to me.
In modern times, only a song entitled "Mary, Did You Know," by Mark Lowry, comes as close to becoming
a Christian standard. I have now made a page for that song which you may access by clicking here.
You will need to use your brower's back arrow to return to this page.

I normally associated music in my family only to Mother, but Daddy was always quick to point out that his favorite
Christmas hymn was "The First Noel."

Having sung in the church choir all my life, I have sung many different cantatas. My favorite, however, is the
Christmas portion of "The Messiah," which I first learned in college where we performed it yearly.

These days my favorite Christmas service is the 11:00 p.m. candlelight service on Christmas Eve at the
First United Methodist Church, here in Lebanon, Tennessee. The sanctuary is always packed with people from
all denominations. It is quiet and reverent. We always conclude with the lights dimmed, a candle lit in every person's hand,
and by singing all stanzas of "Silent Night." The Glory of Christmas is upon us as we go out into the night with
the ringing of the church bells. (Many times in these many years, we have found a beautiful snow falling ! )

I hope you'll take time to read, and will enjoy, the story below which I first found many years ago
in a favorite book, Christ and the Fine Arts.

~~~

As Told by Mary, His Mother

"We are on the way to the feast again and camped near the Holy City. The road is thronged with
people. Joseph's tent is near ours. I am so glad Joseph's tent is near. Oh, how beautiful the Temple is
with the morning sun gilding it ! City set on a hill, crown of all the nations.
..........
One of the rabbis in the Temple today read from the prophet Isaiah about the wonderful child who was
to rule upon a throne like David's, and of whose government there would be no end. How my soul
kindled under his portrayal of coming glory ! Through all her humiliation that hope sustains Israel.

We are on the way home. Mother asked me last night about Joseph, and I fell into her arms and
told her I loved him. Then she said, "Joseph is a good man."
..........
Joseph and I are betrothed. What beautiful days ! Life passes like a dream. Joseph comes much
to talk with father and mother about the hopes of Israel.
..........
My heart is in a tumult. I tremble. I know not what to think; for as I knelt at my evening prayer
an angel appeared to me and told me I was to be the mother of the Messiah.
Seeing my confusion, he hastened to assure me: "And you shall call His name JESUS;
and He shall be great; He shall be a King, like David; and His Kingdom will have no end."
..........
"I am a virgin yet in my father's house," I pleaded; "it cannot be."
"There is no cannot with God," he said, and vanished, leaving me alone.
..........
O my soul; my soul is in an ecstasy ! Oh, words too large for my tongue to frame. Can it be?
It cannot be ! It is a dream ! It could not come to one in such humble station. To be
the mother of the Messiah; oh, that is an honor for only the rich and the great !
What? the secret of our nation between God and me ! Shall I go up to Jerusalem to
the High Priest? But I would be laughed to scorn. To whom may I go?
Who would understand?
..........
I yearned to tell mother this morning, but could not, it seems so presumptuous,
so unbelievable, yes, impossible. And Joseph ~ how can Joseph understand?
..........
My secret oppresses me. If there was one to whom I could unburden myself,
one who could understand !
..........
I could bear it no longer and am on my way to Hebron to see my cousin Elizabeth.
We have heard wonderful stories about Elizabeth. Perhaps she will understand.
To her I may pour out my soul.

Elizabeth met me at the door, and before I had spoken she broke into rapture,
calling me the mother of the Messiah and pronouncing blessings on me.
It has been revealed to her, she said.
..........
Three months with Elizabeth. Blessed days ! We lived in another world ~ a world
far removed from this ~ and unburdened to each other our bursting hearts.
Two babes were to change the face of the world and those babes would
call us mother. I am leaving for home today.

Farewell, Elizabeth. I am loth to leave; you only can understand. I must go now to the outside world ~
where explanations will be asked and no one will believe ~ perhaps not even mother.

Home in Nazareth. Joseph is coming tonight with his friend. I am afraid to meet Joseph tonight.
..........
I fled to my room and wept. Mother came in and wept with me. I did not see Joseph.
Mother tried to explain, but could not. He went away in great distress, while I lay
under the heaviest burden womankind ever bears.

O my God, time will vindicate me, but meantime what? I am troubled; my heart panteth;
my strength faileth. Lover and friend hast thou put far from me;
my friends stand aloof; my confusion is continually before me, and
the shame of my face is covered. Joseph is planning to send me away.

How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
Consider and hear me, O Lord, my God; lighten my eyes lest I sleep
the sleep of death...........

Blessed be God; He has heard my cry. Joseph came to me, bowing low and
imploring forgiveness; he made obeisance, declaring his unworthiness.
"Then you understand," I said.

"An angel appeared to me in a dream," he answered, "saying 'Joseph, thou son of David, fear not
to take unto thee Mary, thy betrothed; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS; for He shall
save His people from their sins.' "

Together we bowed in silence; then Joseph prayed brokenly: "Return unto thy rest,
O my soul; for thou, Lord, hast dealt bountifully with us, and we shall walk
uprightly before Thee all our days."
..........
Our wedding day. Elizabeth came ~ and her angel-promised child. Elizabeth and Joseph talked
much together, and Joseph looked long into the face of her babe.
..........
Elizabeth and Joseph and I are trying to understand the prophecies concerning the Messiah.
We pondered over and over that Scripture that tells of a virgin that should bear a Son and that
His Name should be called "God-With-Us."

Joseph looked tenderly at me and said, "It seems so plain now."

~ from Christ and the Fine Arts
For an explanation of material I have used from that book, you may see my page
entitled "One Solitary Life."

~~~

The Annunciation

"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee,
named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David;
and the virgin's name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee:
blessed art thou among women.

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of
salutation this should be.

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give
unto Him the throne of his father David: And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever;
and of His kingdom there shall be no end.

..........
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.
And the angel departed from her."

~ Luke 1:26-33,38

The Birth

"And so it was ....... the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in
a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were n the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over
their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them;
and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,
lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men."

~ Luke 2:6-14

~~~

Mary had a little lamb.
"....... the Lamb of God,
which taketh away
the sin of the world."

~ John 1:29 b

Ready For Christmas

"Ready for Christmas," she said with a sigh,
As she gave a last touch to the gifts piled high.
Then wearily sat for a moment and read
Till soon, very soon, she was nodding her head.

Then quietly spoke a voice in her dream,
"Ready for Christmas? What do you mean?
Ready for Christmas, when only last week
You wouldn't acknowledge your friend on the street?

"Ready for Christmas, while holding a grudge?
Perhaps you had better let God be the judge.
Why, how can the Christ-child come and abide
In a heart that is selfish and filled with pride?

"Ready for Christmas, when only today
A beggar lad came and you turned him away
Without even a smile to show that you cared?
The little he asked ~ it could have been spared.

"Ready for Christmas? You've worked, it is true,
But just doing the things that you wanted to do.
Ready for Christmas? Your circle's too small.
Why, you are not ready for Christmas at all."

She awoke with a start, and a cry of despair,
"There's so little time, and I've still to prepare!
O Father, forgive me, I see what you mean,
To be ready means more than a house swept clean!"

Yes, more than the giving of gifts and a tree,
It's the heart swept clean that He wants to see,
A heart that is free from bitterness ~ sin.
Ready for Christmas ~ and ready for Him!

~ Alice Hansche Mortenson

(from the old Don McNeill radio broadcast of 1948)

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