…and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart…[Luke 2:8-20, NRSV]
The young mother Mary is described as one who listens, thinks, and contemplates the strange events that surround her. Mary responds to these strange events by moving internally. Scripture says more than once that Mary ponders these things in her heart.
After the angel Gabriel first addressed her as “favored one,” Mary pondered what kind of greeting that might be. After the shepherds found Mary and Joseph and the child in the manger, and made known to them what the angels had told them about the child, Mary treasured their words and pondered them in her heart. Again, in the story of the young Jesus being found by his parents in the temple, Mary pondered in her heart his strange response about being in his father’s house.
Beverly Gaventa, a New Testament scholar, comments that were a middle-aged man to be found pondering things in Scripture, he would be considered to be engaged in “deep theological reflection”; and so why should we not also think of young Mary, mother of Jesus, engaged in “deep theological reflection” on just who and what this son of hers was, and what her role in his upbringing should be?
Are there not occasions in our lives when we ponder, when we engage in “deep theological reflection” – whether we call it that or not – on just who and what this child in the manger is and what our role in relation to him should be?
Meister Eckhart, a Medieval theologian, said that, in a sense, we are all mothers, bearers of God. God ushers the mystery of his presence into the world even through us, even through our bodies. Despite our human weakness and fear, Christ makes himself known, even in our seemingly normal day-to-day lives.
What good is it to us, he asks, if Mary was full of grace if we do not also allow God to fill us with grace? What good is it for the Creator to (have given) birth to his Son if I do not also give birth to him in my home, in my workplace, and in my friendships? What good is it if the eternal birth of Jesus takes place in the manger, if it does not also take place within our hearts? (Meister Eckhart in Barbara Brown Taylor’s Gospel Medicine, p. 153)
Dear God, fill us with your grace this Advent season. May Jesus be born again within our hearts and may his light shine through us, so that everyone we meet may see and know his love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
– by Rev. Dr. Todd Speed
Rev. Dr. Todd Speed is the Pastor of Decatur Presbyterian Church and is married to Melanie Doxey Speed, who teaches
Spanish at the 4/5 Academy in Decatur. Their three oldest sons are in college and the youngest, Luke, is a sophomore at Decatur High School.
(Image credit: http://imageandspirit.blogspot.com/)
Led By Love @ DPC 