This is the large icon of the Mother of God found near the entrance to the cave in the Bethlehem Church of the Nativity where it is believed Jesus was born. It is a large icon and people stop to pray by the many thousands. But not this year again as the coronavirus has kept the pilgrims away.
Perhaps we can make a cyber visit to Bethlehem and stop here before the image. The red light above is burning. We can imagine no one is around so we can stay as long as we care to. But notice this, the Mother of God and the Holy Infant are smiling. Their eyes are wide awake to the world in all of its troubles. Wires are strung across the icon where people leave tokens of gratitude and praise. Some have fallen to the bottom of the icon's frame. But we don't have to do that. The only thing we need to leave behind is our prayer born of silence. Or the silence itself can be the prayer. Therese of Lisieux prayed with a sigh. Kateri Tekakwitha prayed with her eyes.
