In my early 20’s, I studied for a year in Israel. During that time, I had an opportunity to visit the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth.

The church is located over the site the Catholic church holds used to be the house of Mary. Also, where it is believed that the angel Gabriel appeared to announce the birth of Christ.

In the church are many mosaics. Each donated from a different country around the world.

Each mosaic shows an image of Mary, often in a familiar pose of holding the baby Jesus.

Each mosaic, also, portrays that image through the eyes and often in the image of the artists and the cultures they represented.

How We See Others Often Indicates How We See Ourselves

Mary and Jesus both existed. They looked like something. But no one knows how they looked.

The primary description of Jesus, from Scripture, is that he was physically “nondescript.” Mary’s character and personality were described but not her looks.

So, we don’t know. But the world imagines.

What I find interesting is how artists from different cultures tended to psychologically project themselves onto the persons of Mary and Jesus.

Backgrounds and Perspectives

We all come to Christmas from various perspectives and backgrounds.

But here is a thought: Whatever you think (or don’t think) about Christmas, whether you celebrate (or don’t) – there is a chance that how we see or experience Christmas (or anything else) reflects something about how we see ourselves.

It’s at least something to consider. We wouldn’t be unique in doing so.

What might we learn about ourselves – based off what we see reflected back to us?

What are we missing? What is obscured by what we see reflected back to us?

I’d like to wish you all a Merry Christmas. And, however you spend your day, I encourage you to try to see and value the people around you for who they really are.

Merry Christmas!

Christian