I. Let's begin with Mary, Did You Know? I know people like the song. I get that the purpose behind the lyrics is to get us to contemplate the awesome truths to which the song points. That's all well and good. However, does the casual listener realize:
1. The answers to the questions can be found in Old Testament prophecy?
2. That 1st century Jews in Palestine were well-versed in the Hebrew Scriptures and intensely awaiting Messianic prophecy to be fulfilled in their time?
3. That by all accounts, Mary was a faith-filled Jewish girl, fluent in the Hebrew Scriptures?
- Her Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) demonstrates this fluency, mirroring, as it does, Hannah's Song of thanksgiving (1 Samuel 2:1-10).
4. That, YES, Mary almost certainly did know!
To listen to the song with the belief that Mary KNEW does not take away from the wonder of the truths behind the questions. On the contrary! It demonstrates even more the great and awesome fact that God had already told His people to expect these things to come to pass - and they did! All one had to do was listen to the prophets... to listen to the Word given in the Hebrew Scriptures - and watch. I now invite you to do the same as I dissect each line of the song, Mary, Did You Know?, by putting Mary on trial, as it were.
Mary, Did You Know?
The Charge
• Mary, a faithful Jewish girl, was guilty of ignorance regarding the facts about the coming Messiah… her own Son, Jesus the Christ.
The Prosecution
• Your Honor, I call Mary to the stand.
• Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary
• Yes, I did. The Old Testament foretold that “He alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the crests of the sea.” (Job 9:8)
The Prosecution
• Did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Mary
• Yes, I did. The Lord told our prophets, “Say to those whose hearts are frightened: be strong, fear not! Here is your God, He comes with vindication; With divine recompense He comes to save you.” (Is 35:4)
The Prosecution
• Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new… that this child that you’ve delivered will soon deliver you?
Mary
• Yes I did. The angel Gabriel greeted me saying, “Hail, full of grace (kecharitomene – Lk 1:28),” so I knew I’d been given the saving grace of God (though I couldn't fully understand how yet). I then told my cousin Elizabeth that, “My spirit rejoices in God, my savior.” (Lk 1:47)
The Prosecution
• Did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary
• Yes I did. Everyone knew that it was said of the coming Messiah, “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared.” (Is 35:5)
The Prosecution
• Did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?
Mary
• Yes I did. The Psalmist foresaw, “In their distress they cried to the LORD, who brought them out of their peril, hushed the storm to a murmur; the waves of the sea were stilled. They rejoiced that the sea grew calm, that God brought them to the harbor they longed for.” (Ps 107:28-30)
The Prosecution
• Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
Mary
• Yes I did. As it was written, “When He established the heavens I was there… Then was I beside Him as His craftsman, and I was His delight day by day, playing before Him all the while,
playing on the surface of His earth; and I found delight in the sons of men.” (Prov 8:27, 30-31)
The Prosecution
• …And when you kiss your little baby, You’ve kissed the face of God?
Mary
• Yes, “For thus said the LORD of hosts (after He had already sent me)… Whoever touches You touches the apple of my eye… Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.” (Zech 2:12, 14)
The Prosecution
• Mary, did you know? The blind will see, the deaf will hear…
Mary
• Yes, regarding the coming of my Son it was said, “On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.” (Is 29:18)
The Prosecution
• Did you know the dead will live again?
Mary
• Yes, in the Scriptures it was spoken that with the coming of Christ, “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake.” (Dan 12:2)
The Prosecution
• Did you know the lame will leap and the dumb will speak the praises of the Lamb?
Mary
• Of course! The prophet wrote of my Son, saying, “Then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the dumb will sing.” (Is 35:6)
The Prosecution
• Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary
• Yes, I did. It is written of my Son, the Word, “God of my fathers, LORD of mercy. You who have made all things by your word.” (Wis 9:1)
• “At God's word were His works brought into being; they do His will as He has ordained for them.” (Sir 42:15)
The Prosecution
• Did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Mary
• Yes, just listen… “For a child is born to us, a Son is given us; upon His shoulder dominion rests. They name Him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, From David's throne, and over His kingdom, which He confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!” (Is 9:56)
• And as if that weren’t enough, Gabriel told me personally that, “He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of David His father, and He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” (Lk 1:32-33)
The Prosecution
• Did you know that your baby boy is Heaven’s perfect Lamb?
Mary
• Yes, absolutely. As a little girl, I learned the prophecy of the suffering servant. “Though He was harshly treated, He submitted and opened not His mouth; Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, He was silent and opened not His mouth… He was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of His people.” (Is 53:7-8)
The Prosecution
• One final question, Your Honor…
• Mary, did you know that this sleeping child you’re holding is the Great I AM?
Mary
• Yes. It was written, “For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your savior… everyone who is named as mine, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. Lead out the people who are blind though they have eyes, who are deaf though they have ears. Let all the nations gather together, let the peoples assemble! Who among them could have revealed this, or foretold to us the earlier things? Let them produce witnesses to prove themselves right, that one may hear and say, "It is true!" You are my witnesses, says the LORD, my servants whom I have chosen To know and believe in me and understand that it is I. Before me no god was formed, and after me there shall be none. It is I, I the LORD; there is no savior but me. It is I who foretold, I who saved; I made it known, not any strange god among you; You are my witnesses, says the LORD. I am God, yes, from eternity I AM He; There is none who can deliver from my hand: who can countermand what I do? Thus says the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” (Is 43:3, 7-13)
The Judge
• Defense, your witness.
The Defense
• The defense rests, Your Honor.
• "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28)
• “…and His mother kept all these things in her heart.” (Lk 2:51)
The Judgment
Mary, this court finds you NOT GUILTY of ignorance regarding any of those things which are mentioned in the song, “Mary, Did You Know?” By virtue of this decision, perhaps the song itself should be under trial, as it may lend the false impression that you were ignorant of these important matters, and therefore ignorant of your own Jewish faith. While this may be demeaning to you if the song's questions are taken to imply such ignorance on your part, it need not be taken that way. Rather, the song could be used as an opportunity to share the Good News that you already knew, that Jesus is the Christ, the fulfillment of God's Old Testament Messianic promises, as you have so eloquently pointed out with your Scriptural answers.
II. Let's move on to the word Christmas. I
know people don't mean any harm when, on December 25th each year, they gather
together with family and friends, exchange gifts, and share a good meal. December
25th is not the exclusive property of practicing Christians. Still, many
people celebrate "Christmas" without darkening the door of a church
or uttering so much as a word... a thought... of prayer. It's no secret
that Christmas has been greatly divorced from it's Christian roots and
secularized. People of other faiths and of no faith at all celebrate the
day as a holiday. Many Christians (in name only) gather together as well,
but without regard for why. If people want to gather to celebrate whatever
is of value, that's great and to be encouraged, but perhaps they ought to be
reminded... again and again, if necessary, why it is we all celebrate this day.
Christians have made much of this in recent
decades, as the culture has become more and more post-Christian. Good and
faith-filled people try their hardest to remind people that, "JESUS is the
REASON for the season." Amen to that. He certainly is.
However, this is not enough!
Practicing Catholics who know their faith must also
be willing to add to what others have so rightly pointed out. Yes, Jesus
is the reason. But what about the SEASON? Traditionally, Christians
have not only celebrated on December 25th, but several days thereafter.
But wait... there's more! We do not only celebrate Christ... We
celebrate ChristMAS. And what is the origin of this word? According
to the Catholic Encyclopedia: "The word for Christmas in late
Old English is Cristes Maesse,
the Mass of Christ,
first found in 1038, and Cristes-messe, in 1131." So Christmas is
an English word describing a liturgical season focused on both WHO (Christ) and
HOW (Mass) this holiday of Jesus' birth has been properly celebrated by
Christians for as long as it has been celebrated (well before 1038, by the way,
even if the name hadn't yet taken a form recognized by English speakers today).
When one considers that, beginning with the
Reformation of the 16th century, a number of Christians began to divorce the
Mass from Christian celebration, it should not surprise us that eventually
people would find reason to celebrate a Christian holiday without any reference
to Christ either. A breakdown of worship always produces a breakdown of
faith. So here we are today...
This, then, is my contribution to the chorus of
faith-filled Christian voices who seek to put the TRUTH back in the
conversation. Let us be honest enough to recognize that if we are calling
people to put CHRIST back in CHRISTmas, we must also recognize that MASS is an
essential part of ChristMAS too.
Have a very Merry CHRIST-MAS!
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