Acting Head of Senior Years

Christmas time is set aside for recognising and celebrating the birth of Jesus and the influence of Emmanuel – God with us – God entering the human world, becoming God in the flesh. Often this incident is explored through the account in Luke’s Gospel, particularly Luke 2. 

Luke’s Gospel records the statement, ‘But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.’ (Luke 2:19) 

I have always found this statement to be significant because so much activity was swirling around her:

• Giving birth in the stable of a house in a town, not her hometown 
• Shepherds interrupting just after the birth to inquire about this child 
• Extended family all around seeking to help and be present 
• Remembering the words from Mary’s cousin Elisabeth about the special, unlikely birth of her cousin’s child and the link to his newly born son 
• Recalling the message from an angel months before about the significance of this baby Mary now holds in her arms 

Yet, the text says that ‘Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.’ 

As we encounter the busyness of this season and the opportunity to reflect upon the year past and the year to come, may we all be like Mary and treasure these things and ponder them because learning does not come from experience, but reflecting upon experience. 

May you recognise Emmanuel – God with us! God is ever present!