REFLECTIONS TODAY
Words do not come in abundance from Mary. Yes, she gave her Fiat to the angel Gabriel, agreeing to bear the Son of the Most High; she sang her Magnificat to the Lord for looking down at her lowliness; she voiced out her gentle “complaint” to the boy Jesus when he was “lost and found” in the Temple in Jerusalem; and she made her subtle request that Jesus do something when wine ran out at the wedding in Cana. But otherwise, she would observe, keep things and reflect on them in her heart. Such was her disposition when the shepherds excitedly shared their experience on the first Christmas night.
The past nine months were a whirlwind to Mary. The visit of the angel troubled her at first but ended with an assent to what God wanted. She ran to visit Elizabeth. She caused the child in Elizabeth’s womb to leap for joy. She was blessed by this kinswoman. She gave praise to God who has shown kindness for his lowly people. She traveled with Joseph to Bethlehem for the census.
Then she gave birth to Jesus, the greatest gift she has received in life. Then came these shepherds who announced great things concerning this child. Yes, she kept all these things, treasured them humbly and quietly, surely thanking the Lord as how anyone would thank a benefactor who has given a gratuitous gift. Mary reflected on these things in her heart. She would never forget because these changed the course of her life; more, these changed the course of history—even the great history that served as the backdrop of the birth of Jesus.
Pope Francis reflects on this actuation of Mary: “The Gospel goes on to say that Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. What were these things? They were joys and sorrows. On the one hand, the birth of Jesus, the love of Joseph, the visit of the shepherds, that radiant night. But on the other, an uncertain future, homelessness ‘because there was no place for them in the inn’ (Lk 2:7), the desolation of rejection, the disappointment of having to give birth to Jesus in a stable. Hopes and worries, light and darkness: all these things dwelt in the heart of Mary. What did she do? She pondered them, that is to say, she dwelt on them, with God, in her heart. She held nothing back; she locked nothing within out of self-pity or resentment. Instead, she gave everything over to God. That is how she ‘kept’ those things. We ‘keep’ things when we hand them over: by not letting our lives become prey to fear, distress or superstition, by not closing our hearts or trying to forget, but by turning everything into a dialogue with God. God, who keeps us in his heart, then comes to dwell in our lives” (Homily, 1 January 2018).
“Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart” (v 19). Does the word of God proclaimed in the readings in the days surrounding Christmas and the celebration of Christmas itself make an impact in my being?
Gospel • Lk 2:16-21
The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.