Scripture
“And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” Luke 2:19
Reflection
Amidst all the joy, exultation and cheer of the Christmas season, this single line from Luke’s Gospel used on Christmas morning captures my imagination.
“Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” What must she have been thinking…who is this child…what does this mean? The spiritual writer, Macrina Wiederkehr, described it this way: “deep within your soul there is a knowing place, a sanctuary…enter that sacred space.”
Mary invites us into that knowing place, that sacred space. She models for us a contemplative moment, an opportunity to reflect on all the events of our own lives, all the revelations we experience , all the confusion and contradictions, all the tenderness and all the harshness.
As we take the journey to the crib in Bethlehem with Mary and Joseph, let Mary guide us deep into our soul where God’s Divine Presence awaits us.
Our Scripture passage calls us to recognize the presence of the divine in our lives. “When this happens we use the traditional language of miracles…Miracles are just people and events that trigger our love and so allow us to see the world properly.” (Night of Silence by John Shea) May you experience a Christmas miracle and like Mary keep all these things in your heart.
Practice
How did you welcome the divine into your life this Christmas? Like Mary, reflect on these things in your heart.