What was Mary thinking on that first Christmas night?
As I have been reading this so-familiar, so-beautiful, passage in Luke this Christmas, the verse that has stayed with me is verse 19; the short description of Mary after the birth of Jesus, after the angels have appeared to the shepherds, after the shepherds have been to see the baby and shared the news with others, “But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.”
What was Mary thinking? What did Mary know?
These are not original questions! You might be reminded of the song, ‘Mary, did you know’, by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene, made popular by Pentatonix, among others. It is a song that has been praised for its presentation of Mary and God’s love but which also has its detractors.
Baptist pastor and writer, Mike Frost, who some of you will know, called it the “least biblical, most sexist song every written.” “Could you imagine,” he says, “a song asking Abraham [or David] 17 times if he knew he’d be the father of a great nation? …But to the woman, Mary, we sing a condescending Christmas song asking her if she had any idea what on earth she was doing.” And it is not true to Scripture, he points out, because just one chapter before in Luke, in her song of praise, Mary articulates powerfully and comprehensively the significance of Jesus’ birth.
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
For he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has come to the aid of his child Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.
This is what Mary treasured and pondered in her heart on the night of Jesus’ birth – how her words had become a reality! How God had lifted up the lowly and filled the hungry with good things by sending angels to shepherds – smelly, rough sleeping, outcast shepherds – choosing them to be the first to hear, the first to witness the good news of this child! How God had scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts and brought down the powerful, for while Emperor Augustus – hailed as ‘son of God’ and ‘saviour’ of the world – is decreeing all the world must be registered, the true Song of God, the Saviour, Messiah and Lord is born! And how the Mighty One had done great things for her, making her part of God’s great work of mercy and deliverance and salvation.
But using two words – treasured and pondered – indicates that Mary is doing more than just thinking about these events. The first word, from the Greek ‘suntereo’, implies protecting – hence why we translate it ‘treasuring’. The second, ‘sumballo’, also implies protecting or preserving these words, but also observing – following – living by the words she had heard. In other words, Mary is not only remembering events from the past, but also re-membering, bringing together these events, so they shape the present and the future, so the remembrance of God’s mercy is a living, breathing, ongoing reality.
I can relate – just a little – to Mary’s experience of treasuring and pondering. I can distinctly remember, after the birth of my first-born, being overwhelmed by the knowledge she had been born into a world that God loves – that she was also a recipient of this news of great joy – that we were part of the remembrance of God’s mercy for her and for others.
And I have been treasuring and pondering recently how, in our Christmas offering, we are part of the remembrance of God’s mercy for people in the Solomon Islands rebuilding their villages due to rising sea levels, or in Bangladesh implementing new farming techniques to combat food insecurity, or in Nepal advocating against forced marriage. That we are part of the remembrance of God’s mercy for children of refugees here in Canberra, saying to them – through these educational scholarships – we welcome you, we believe in you, and we know you are going to do great things. That we are part of the remembrance of God’s mercy for survivors of trafficking and abuse and exploitation in Cambodia rebuilding their lives.
That in all the ministries of this church – as we seek to follow Jesus today – to build inclusive, caring community – to share God’s love and justice in our words and actions we are part of the remembrance of God’s mercy to our world.
And we know, as Mary knew, as every person who has ever brought life in any way, shape or form into our world knows, there is a cost to love – a cost to remembering God’s mercy. That, as Mary is told by Simeon in the temple, Luke 2:35, “This child… [will] be a sign that is opposed…and a sword will piece your own soul too.” Being part of the work of God comes at a cost, and yet the reward is knowing – treasuring and pondering the knowledge – that love continues to be born. “We are all meant to be mothers of God,” Meister Eckart said, “For God is always needing to be born.”
A few years ago, Toronto-born theologian, Jennifer Henry, wrote alternative lyrics for the song, ‘Mary, did you know’ that start like this:
Mary, did you know, that your ancient words would still leap off our pages? Mary did you know, that your spirit song would echo through the ages?
Let’s sing that song again together. Let’s continue to treasure and ponder these words together. Let’s rejoice that we can be part of the remembrance of God’s mercy together with our God.
Mary’s song – Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord.
Opening Prayer
Living God, on this holy day we gather –
to stand with shepherds, amazed at your glory;
to sing with angels, rejoicing in your work;
to wait with Joseph, trusting in your promise;
to sit with Mary, cradling your love.
May the good news of this day inspire us
to tell the world of our great joy:
for to us is born a Saviour, the Messiah, the Lord.
Glory and praise to you forever! Amen.
Prayer (inspired by Luke 1:46-55)
Merciful God, May Mary’s song still echo through the ages…
May it be heard by the victims of violence in Israel and in Gaza.
May it ring in the ears of the traumatised in Syria and Lebanon.
May it sing in the hearts of those living in countries most affected by climate change.
May it be the rally cry of peace for the war-weary of Myanmar, and the Maghreb region of Africa,
And Sudan and Ukraine and Russia.
May it be a song that stirs reverent fear in the hearts of those who assume power.
May it be an earworm song of hope for all who are dealing with financial pressures or difficult relationships or poor health and for all who are grieving on this day.
And may the joyful promise of justice and mercy fill all our hearts to overflowing action. Amen.
Benediction
Go and be in Christmas,
And may the grace of the child born in Bethlehem,
the love of God who never ceases to amaze
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit who never wearies
be with you this Christmas day and every day. Amen.