“But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
Luke 2:19
They were “righteous ruminations.”
Reflections on prophecies of the past. Musings over what had just happened. Projections over the future implications of it all.
Such are the meanings of the words “But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
The Greek word “suntereo” is used here for “kept” and basically means “to keep closely together, to weave, to conserve from ruin, keep and obey, etc.,” while “sumballo” is used for “pondered” and also means “to combine, consult with, closely consider, meditate upon, muse, etc.”
Thus, the combination of the two is a picture of a seamstress creating a tapestry from individual threads and transforming it into something that is both beautiful and practical. It’s also a picture of a spider weaving its intricate web, even though it’s never been taught engineering or design.
Yes, Mary—most likely a quiet, introspective, young teenage girl—spent many an hour “chewing the cud” on all that’d been happening in her life. It’s not every day an angelic visitor shows up in your kitchen while you’re washing dishes or in your living room while cleaning the furniture.
And, it’s certainly not every day that you’re told you’re going to be the recipient of “great Grace” (Lk. 1:28, 30) and would bear “the Son of God, Who’d become the Savior, Who is Christ the Lord” (1:31-33; 2:11).
No wonder she “closely guarded her thoughts and quietly reflected on them”—both at Jesus’ birth and in the coming days (Lk. 2:51).
And, so should we.
As we come to the close of another year and prepare to enter a new one, it’s important for us to also spend some time in reflecting and projecting. No doubt, for you, like the rest of us, 2011 was a “mixed bag” of joys and sorrows. . .victories and defeats. . .moments of faith and times of fear.
And, no doubt 2012 will be the same—especially in light of the foreboding prognostications (prophecies) that are making the headlines:
The coming collapse of the euro. The supposed doomsday prophecy of the Mayan calendar on December 21, 2012. The ever-present threat of terrorism and escalating financial woes here in the U.S. Global warming warnings and increased natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, melting polar caps, etc.
But, by following Mary’s example of “keeping and pondering” of God’s past actions and present-tense Promises, we need not despair over the past or give in to fear over the future. Truly, when we know we’re held secure in the hollow of the Hand of the One Who “knows the number of hair on our head and keeps our tears in His Bottle and Book” (John 10:28-29; Matthew 10:30; Psalm 56:8—KJV), we can always have peace-of-mind and inner assurance.
Even though all the pieces of her life’s “jigsaw puzzle” wouldn’t fall into place until after her Son’s death, burial, Resurrection and Ascension, she still knew He was one-of-a-kind Son—and she’d been privileged by God to have a special place in His Eternal Plan.
Dear Reader, God also has a plan for your life—and it’s a good Plan (Jeremiah 29:11). Even though we mess it up through sinful choices, sins of commission and omission, etc., the fact remains that His “Grace is greater than our sins.” And, by putting Him first in our lives (Matthew 6:33), we realize our lives have purpose and meaning that’s not found anywhere else.
Here’s hoping 2012 will be a year of Hope and Promise for you. As Solomon said, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart—and don’t rely upon your own dreams and schemes—and in everything acknowledge the Lord (i.e., live your life for Him) and He’s promised to guide your path” (Proverbs 3:5-6). God bless you!
December 28, 2011
