Luke 2:13 RSV Revised Standard Version
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!”
Today in my New Testament reading, as I read the passage in Luke chapter 2 about the sudden appearance of a host of angels to the shepherds in the field, my attention is drawn to two contrasting reactions after the shepherds found the new-born infant Iesus and told Joseph and Mary what they heard and saw in the field.
Luke 2:19 - 20 RSV Revised Standard Version
19 But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
The first reaction is that of Mary, the mother of the new-born child who was sent by God to the the Anointed One. Verse 19 tells us that she kept all she heard in her heart and pondered over them.
The second reaction is that of the shepherds who, in contrast, glorified and praised God as they left the scene of baby Iesus in the manger.
Why did Mary react so quietly, keeping the good news brought by the shepherds and pondering over it in her heart? Why didn't she rejoice, glorify God and praise Him loudly as the shepherds did?
About twelve years ago I looked through several passages in the Gospels about Mary keeping what she saw and heard in her heart. Between December 2009 and January 2010, I wrote out my thoughts in three blog posts, some of which I preached in my Sunday Sermons to the church where i attend. Please visit the links below:
