mary, virgin mary, christ child, Advent, untouchables, dalits, India, caste system, God,

We tend to think of the holy mother as a blue-hooded young woman, privileged to be chosen by God. And that she was—but she was also a pregnant unmarried woman, who, according to the culture of the day, could rightfully be stoned to death. Here’s what we miss in the Christmas story about Mary’s obedience–and what it means for us.