“But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2: 19)
The heart and mind of Mary. What was it like to be Mary as the shepherds retold their story to her and Joseph in their stable setting? So much had already happened to Mary. From Gabriel’s visit announcing to her the impending pregnancy, to explaining it to Joseph, the trip to Bethlehem, a stable birth, and now a visitation by local shepherds. How does one person digest all that transpired? Luke writes that Mary treasured and pondered everything in her heart. It is a reflective moment for Mary, a holy pause where she considers what God has brought about. Such a moment required deep reflection in light of God’s miracle.
If spiritual discernment is anything, it is deep reflection. Life can easily speed by us without leaving us any time to reflect on what happened. One event moves quickly into another, and we move with it. Discernment, however, is a holy pause where we consider what God is doing and revealing to us. Like Mary, we must ponder and treasure each moment and learn from them. As we consider each part of our lives, we prayerfully place each part in God’s light so God might show us what it means for us going forward.
The psalmist would proclaim, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) This stillness does not come easy to us in our fast-paced society. Life moves so very fast. Therefore, as Christians, being still and listening for God’s word is a discipline that requires a commitment to pacing ourselves so that God’s word is not drowned out by the noise of our world. In such stillness, we can discover that our God is speaking to us about our lives, and offering words of comfort, assurance, and direction. Like Mary, we must treasure these words and ponder them in our hearts.
Prayer: Help me to be still and to listen to your word, O Lord.
Conversations from the Couch 