Luke 2:19

Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.

This sentence is what I would call a piece of considerable understatement! Mary had just given birth to the Messiah. She certainly had plenty to think about! Older versions of the Bible translate this verse as: “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (NIV).

What had happened to Mary was a turning point in human history and stands at the centre of God’s loving plan for his world. No one, however old or mature, could possibly have taken it all in or claimed to have fully understood what had happened. Two thousand years later, theologians are still reflecting deeply on it.

There is much that we do understand about our world, but still much that is beyond us. When we see the wonders of creation, we can attempt to describe what we see but we may never completely capture its beauty and intricacy. When we see the way in which God works in our lives, there is much that makes sense but always some things that puzzle us, and which leave us with questions.

Like Mary, it is good for us to keep pondering. To do that, we need to allow ourselves space to reflect. It’s so easy to get sucked into a life of relentless activity. I believe God wants us to give ourselves the space to reflect deeply. In some Church traditions, the idea of retreat is very important. This is a time away from home where we can stand back from life and give unhurried time to listen to God. In a world that encourages us to race through our lives at a breathless pace, we need to learn from Mary’s example and ponder.

Question – Where are you able to find space to listen to God?

Prayer – Loving Lord, help me to listen more carefully to your voice. Amen