Mary's Pondering

 

Scripture

Luke 2:17-19

  ¹⁷ When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.  (NRSV)

Devotion

The figure of Mary looms large in Christian imagination.  On the one hand, many of us feel a sense of envy as we imagine what it would have been like to hold God's love Incarnate in her arms...to nurse him and cuddle him and rock him to sleep.  On the other hand, one has to feel a sense of pity for her as we think forward to the fact that her child will grow up to be crucified right in front of her.  We may find ourselves wondering just how much God revealed to Mary.  How she did she deal with that knowledge or lack thereof  as she went through the daily routine of changing divine diapers and kissing the Savior of the world's  boo-boos better?

There are a few times when the gospels say that Mary ponders something that she has learned about Jesus in her heart.  What exactly, though, does she ponder?   What hopes and fears coursed through her heart as she reflected on the promises the Angel Gabriel made?  Scripture keeps Mary's thoughts private.  I personally like that ambiguity.  It encourages us to put ourselves in her shoes and really ponder who this baby named Jesus is...to really reflect on what it means to love him not just as a divine figure but as a flesh and blood child.  What are our own hopes and fears for this baby, and how do we feel about the ironic fact that we celebrate the Christ child's birth because of what will happen at his death?

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has a beautiful carol that articulates the both the joy and the anticipated pain of the Christmas story. In it, Mary sings a lullaby that pours out love, joy, and grief for her newborn child. I'm including the song and the lyrics below. As you listen to its plaintive tones, I encourage you to let your own heart ponder who Jesus is.  What does the baby in the manger mean to you?  What moments in his life and ministry stand out to you as ones to celebrate?  What would you save him from if you could?  Then, when you are ready to end your pondering, lift up a prayer that thanks Jesus for who he is and what he's done for us.  While you're at it, perhaps you would like to give thanks for his mother...who loved him and cared for his daily needs and helped him grow into the man he became even as she pondered many things about his future in her heart.

 

 

"In the Dark Night"

In the dark night, above Bethlehem,
a bright star shined out, covering the Holy Land.
The Most Pure Virgin, the Holy Bride,
in a poor cave gave birth to a Son.

[Chorus] Sleep Jesus, sleep my little baby,
Sleep my little star,
About your fate, my little sweet,
To you I will sing.

She gently kissed and swaddled him,
She put him to bed, and quietly started to sing,
You will grow up, my Son, you’ll become a grown-up,
And you will go out into the world, my baby.

Sleep Jesus, sleep my sweet little baby,
Sleep my little star,
About your fate, my little sweet,
To you I will sing.

The Love of the Lord and God’s truth,
You will bring faith to the world, to your people,
The truth will live on, the shackles of sin will be shattered,
[But my child], on Golgotha, my child will die.

Sleep Jesus, sleep my sweet little baby,
Sleep my little star,
About your fate, my little sweet,
To you I will sing.

Sleep, Jesus, sleep my sweet little baby,
Sleep my rose blossom,
With hope on You
The entire world is watching!

 [Translation provided by St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church]