Last week I was thinking about Mary and her being the theotokos - the God Bearer. I kept thinking about her, especially as I was listening to all the Christmas songs where she appears, and the ways we talk about her.

We have completely romanticized this story! We talk about Mary being docile and obedient. We talk about her being smitten with her baby.

But what we don't talk about is how dangerous this story was for her. The story tells us that she was not wed when she became pregnant. And even if Joseph had "dismissed her quietly," there was no way that the news of her pregnancy would be kept quiet. Being pregnant out of marriage was (and still is in some places in the world) a death sentence.

The danger doesn't stop there. Maternal mortality rates were crazy high in ancient times - there were no surgeries or transfusions. A birth that went sideways often meant death for the mother and baby.

Even scripture nods to the danger within the story when the angel tells Mary that a sword will pierce her own soul (Luke 2:34-35).

Dear Church, being God Bearers is not an easy, romanticized, all-will-be-well endeavor. There is danger lingering in it. Danger of ostracization and ridicule. There is danger in being on the outside of societal norms.

It turns out that Mary was neither docile nor weak: she was perhaps the strongest character in all of scripture.

And that is the invitation to us, the God Bearers of today: that we are strong and courageous even though the message of hope and salvation will not be met by all with joy and gladness.

In the days of Christmas, may you know the strength and courage that comes only from God as we bear God into the world.

Peace this week,

Bishop Barbins