The Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary begin with the Annunciation, the beautiful story of Mary’s “yes” to the Angel Gabriel, which we hear in this Sunday’s Gospel reading from Luke (Luke 1: 26-38). This mystery is followed by the story of Mary’s visitation to her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1: 39-56) and the recognition of the Christ child in the womb of Mary as John the Baptist leaps at the presence of the child Jesus. The third Joyful Mystery recounts the birth of Jesus in the poverty of the manger (Luke 2:1-20) and reminds us of the Lord’s desire to come to each of us and be born into our homes. In the fourth Joyful Mystery, we recount the Presentation in the Temple (Luke 2: 22-39) and the recognition of Jesus by Simeon as the long-promised Savior of the people. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52), is the subject from Christ’s life that we mediate upon in the fifth Joyful Mystery. The heart of the Rosary is the “Hail Mary,” which begins with the words that are spoken to Mary by the Angel Gabriel. So much of the prayer “Hail Mary” is taken from lines of scripture that make up the Bible passages that are meditated on in the Joyful Mysteries.

I could not help but thinking of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary as I read this Sunday’s readings and thought of the reality of a COVID 19 Christmas that will require many of us to stay at home this Christmas 2020.

What is so beautiful about the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary is that they reflect upon the reality of Christ, the Son of God, coming to Mary, being born into the poverty of a Manger, and being recognized by those who were longing for His coming.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, the story of the Annunciation shows us why Mary is considered to be the Model of the Christian Life, the example of how we are to live, and the First Christian. Mary was free to respond to the Lord as she wished. The news that she would become the Mother of the Lord before she entered into marriage with Joseph subjected her to great danger, as a woman could have been stoned at that time for being pregnant before marriage. Despite the hardship of explaining how she came to be with child “by the power of the Holy Spirit,” Mary does not hesitate to give her “yes” to the angel. As a result of her “yes,” Christ comes to dwell with her. The Blessed Mother also makes Christ manifest to us and all generations by her “yes” to God. She is our model, because we too are called to give our “yes” to God today, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ may come to dwell within us and we might make Him manifest to others. When we ourselves meditate on this Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, we are to ask for the grace to follow Mary’s example and to welcome Christ into our own lives today. We are to invite Christ into our own homes and the situations to which we are sent by giving our “yes” to God and opening our own hearts to the Holy Spirit. Even if we cannot go to Church this Christmas to welcome Christ, we may give our “yes” to His coming to us and being born in our hearts and homes through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the Joyful Mystery of the Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, we remember the call that is given to each of us to bring the love of Christ to the different members of our family. We are to see Christ in our brothers and sister; in those with whom we share our own lives. Perhaps this Christmas, as Mary visited Elizabeth, we might call others or drop off a meal to those who are alone. We may not be able to visit our local church and encounter Christ there, but we can encounter him in our homes and families and bring Him to a lonely person through acts of charity. If someone is alone and isolated, we might even offer to pray a decade of the Rosary with them this Christmas over the phone.

The third Joyful Mystery reminds us that Christ was born into the poverty of the Manger. The Manger is one of the most beloved images of our Christian tradition. The Manger reminds us that no matter how rich or poor we are, Christ desires to be born into our homes. Christ could have been born the son of the Emperor, but He chose a poor woman and her husband Joseph to be the parents of His child. This has always been for me a powerful image of God’s desire to come into every human home. No matter how humble our home or heart, the poverty of the Manger announces that God wishes to be with us in our home. This Christmas, many of us will feel immense sadness that we are not able to go to Mass and receive the Lord in the Eucharist. While nothing can replace the Eucharist, this year we can open our homes and hearts to Christ’s coming to us in a different way. God never abandons us. As the Psalm proclaims, “Forever, I will sing your steadfast love, O Lord,” we can be certain that even as we remain home this Christmas, Christ is with us no matter what. This year, as we may be unable to go to Mass and receive Christ in the Eucharist because of COVID 19, we can be certain that because of His steadfast love Jesus is with all of us.

In the fourth Joyful Mystery, as we contemplate that Christ was presented in the Temple, according to the law, we recall that Christ and the Holy Family were obedient to the law. Christ, who was the Son of God, followed the prescriptions of the law. This year, unlike any year in the past, and for good reason, the public health authorities are requiring that those of us who live in areas that have been locked down stay at home. Many people have been talking about how we should ignore the government and do our own thing. This is not the Christian approach to this situation of public health and wellbeing. In charity, we are being asked to stay at home to protect the elderly and vulnerable. Government is necessary and when acting to protect the common good is to be listened to and obeyed. As we remain at home this year in those areas that have been shut-down, we can recount how Jesus and the Holy family were also subject to the Law. It was in fulfillment of the law that they also went to be registered in Bethlehem, In following the law to protect and care for others, we are doing God’s will.

In the fifth Joyful Mystery, the finding of Jesus in the Temple, calls us to mediate on the wisdom and teaching of Jesus. Happily, Christ’s wisdom and teaching can be communicated to us in so many different ways these days. As we remain at home this Christmas, we might consider reading one of the Gospel narratives of Christ’s birth or perhaps even an entire Gospel. There are many great videos available and many Masses will be broadcast. This extra time to remain at home is a wonderful time to seek some spiritual readings or inspiration. My own favorite for this season is Pope Benedict’s short reflection on Christ’s birth entitled “Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narrative.” On Christmas Eve or Day itself, I would recommend Cardinal Collins’ Mass from the Cathedral, or anyone of the beautiful Masses that will be live streamed or broadcast.

In this Sunday’s first reading from the Second Book of Samuel, King David notices the comfort of the home that he is living in and desires to build a home for the Lord. He is told that he cannot and this job will be left for his son Solomon. This year, as we celebrate Christmas, we may wish to leave the comfort of our homes to encounter Christ in His temple. For many of us, this might not be possible this year. This year, instead of meeting Christ in the temple, we may be required to stay at home and welcome Him there. If there is a grace to be discovered this year, perhaps it is to recognize that Christ desires to be born into our homes and it is here that we are challenged to invite Him. No matter what the make-up of our home, we are invited to allow Christ into our homes. We may think it is impossible for Christ to come to our homes in these times, however the words of the Angel Gabriel to Mary also speak to us of God’s plan for us—“For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). All we need do to allow Christ into our hearts is follow the example of Mary and give Christ our “yes.”

This year, as many of us face the very real possibility of a COVID 19 Christmas in lockdown, I would like to suggest that we make this a Family Rosary Christmas at home. Before, or after, watching Christmas Mass, why not gather alone or with family to pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. If we know someone alone, perhaps we could call and pray a decade or the whole Rosary with them by phone. For those who do not have a Rosary, or may not know how to pray it, I am including a link to a YouTube video of the Joyful Mysteries so that all you have to do is click and listen (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WShVugWWOx0). If you would like a link to show you how to pray the Rosary on your own, you may find it at: https://www.rosarycenter.org/homepage-2/rosary/how-to-pray-the-rosary/joyful-mysteries-scripturally-based/

Mary gives us an example of how the first Christmas was lived and celebrated. It depended upon her “yes” and willingness to do the will of God. Because of her “yes,” Christ was born for all of us. This year, as we are every day, we are invited to give our “yes” to God so that Christ may come to us today. On this COVID 19 Christmas of 2020, the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary may be one way of inviting Christ into our stay-at-home Christmases.

As we approach this Christmas 2020, I wish to all of you and your families and very blessed, healthy, happy and Merry Christmas.

Fr. Michael McGourty
Pastor, St. Peter’s Church—Toronto

This reflection based on the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent—Year B: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Psalm 89; Romans 16: 25-27; and Luke 1:26-38.