Luther on Mary

Some points from Roland Bainton's compilation, Martin Luther’s Christmas Book.

Writing about the annunciation, Luther quoted St. Bernard of Clairvaux who said that there were three miracles in the story: First, that God and man could be united in this promised Child. Second, that a virgin could be a Mother. And the third and greatest miracle--that Mary should believe it.

Luther continued: "Had she not believed, she could not have conceived." But "she held fast to the word of the angel because she had become a new creature."

We, too, he said, are called to believe what Isaiah prophesied: "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." It's easy enough, Luther said, to believe that Jesus is the son of the Virgin and the Son of God. It's much harder "to believe that this Son of God is ours." To put ourselves in the position of Mary, and to hear and to believe the promise that Christ is come to us.

Reflecting on the Magnificat Luther said,

God allows the godly to be powerless and oppressed so that everyone thinks they are done for; yet even in that very moment God is most powerfully present, though hidden and concealed. When the power of man fails, the power of God begins, provided faith is present and expectant.

Reflecting on the trials of Mary and Joseph in seeking shelter in Bethlehem he said:

They were, of all, the lowest and the most despised, and [yet they had to] make way for everyone until they were shoved into a stable to make a common lodging and table with the cattle, while many cutthroats lounged like lords in the inn. [These] did not recognize what God was doing in the stable. With all their eating, drinking, and finery, God left them empty, and this comfort and treasure was hidden from them. Oh, what a dark night it was in Bethlehem that this light should not have been seen. Thus God shows that he has no regard for what the world is and has and does. And the world shows that it does not know or consider what God is and has and does.

Joseph had to do his best, and it may well be that he asked some maid to fetch water or something else, but we do not read that anyone came to help. They heard that a young wife was lying in a cow stall and no one gave heed. Shame on you, wretched Bethlehem! The inn ought to have been burned with brimstone, for even [if] Mary had been a beggar maid or unwed, anybody at such a time should have been glad to give her a hand.

There are many of you in this congregation who think to yourselves: "If only I had been there! How quick I would have been to help the Baby! I would have washed h is linen. How happy I would have been to go with the shepherds to see the Lord lying in the manger!" Yes, you would! You say that because you know how great Christ is, but if you had been there at that time you would have done no better than the people of Bethlehem! Childish and silly thoughts are these! Why don't you do it now? You have Christ in your neighbor. You ought to serve him, for what you do to your neighbor in need you do to the Lord Christ himself.