Treasures of the heart

"... Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart."  Luke 2.19

The opening of the Gospel of Luke has Mary pondering.  When the angel comes and announces her pregnancy, she was perplexed by his words and pondered.  When Zechariah named his son John (per the angel's instructions, and in contrast to the tradition of naming children after a family member), those who heard the news pondered and said, "What then will this child become?"

And then Mary, hearing the shepherds' story about angels and messages from God, pondered these words, treasured them in her heart.

The craziness of last minute Christmas is upon us.  Adults rush around with To Do lists clutched in their hands.  Children are almost literally 'beside themselves' in anticipation.  I remember (when I had young children in the house) how hard it was to find extra patience and any sense of calm within myself in the final run-up to Christmas.  Now that I am alone, but hosting adult children, I am torn between the weight that hosting guests creates and the anticipation of having them with me for several days.  There was a time in my mother's life when she not only didn't anticipate, she almost avoided any preparation for Christmas and I can already see how that might happen.

So when will the time come for us to pause and embrace the intersection of our lives with the divine gift of Jesus?  How do we make room for the baby Jesus.....giving him space to renew and refresh us, allowing ourselves to be drawn into a cosmic moment of grace?  What exactly will we be pondering this year?

The final days are upon us.  What are we treasuring?  What is taking root in our hearts?  May it truly be Jesus, the giver and gift of life and love.
Peace