Mary Pondered These Things in Her Heart

Throughout her life, Mary pondered many things in her heart.  These times of contemplation reflect her amazement of God’s work in her life and her role in salvation history.

The Annunciation

“…the Angel Gabriel was sent from God…to a virgin...[her] name was Mary.  And he came to her and said, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.” (Luke 1:26-29)

The Angel Gabriel greets Mary with: “Hail, Full of Grace”.  (Luke 1:28)

In original Greek, the word Chaire comes from the root verb chairó which is found five times in the new testament.  It is translated as Hail or Greetings.  In Matt 27:29, when Jesus is mocked and a crown of thorns is place on his head, the roman soldiers mock him saying:  “Hail, King of the Jews”.  In Matt 5:12, the form chairete is translated as rejoice.  So, to Mary,  this first word of the Angel sounds like a royal greeting or the introduction to a joyful announcement about to be made. 

The second Greek word in the Angel’s greeting is kecharitomene. At the core of this word is the verb "charitoo," which means to endow “with grace" or "divine favor".  It is in the perfect, passive, participle; this form is not used anywhere else in the new testament.  It is a verbal adjective that expresses a completed action received by the subject, typically translated as “having been” plus the verb in the past tense.  In this case, “having been graced” or “having been favored”.  It implies a state from the beginning and continuing into the future. 

This unique word is a title for Mary alone.  It implies a fullness of grace that started at her beginning (conception) and continues unending into the future.  In Acts 6:8, while Steven is described as “pleres charitos”  also translated “full of grace”, this form is in the present participle, and is a temporary state of grace.

The humble Mary would have been puzzled by this address and the unique title given to her.  The Angel continues with the message:

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, 33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:31-33)

Now, she would be bewildered as to how she as a consecrated virgin would have a son, and a even more a King!  As a Jewish woman she would have also recognized the meaning of the name Jesus as “God Saves”.

Mary would have pondered the meaning of her unique title and be amazed at the joyful royal announcement of the coming of her Son and King!   She would have felt unprepared for such an important station, and clearly aware of the challenges and scrutiny she would encounter.

Humbly she agrees saying:  “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

Mary Visits Elizabeth

During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’ “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, 42 cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord[n] should come to me? 44 For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed are you who believed[o] that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:39-45)

After the annunciation Mary makes haste to her cousin, Elizabeth who upon her arrival, and filled with the Holy Spirit, acknowledges Mary as uniquely blessed! 

Mary still contemplating the words from the angel, has further revelation of her role as the “Mother of the Lord”.   Overwhelmed by the grace of God and honor given to her, Mary exclaims her joy and gratefulness in what is entitled The Canticle of Mary (Luke 1:46-55):

46 And Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
47     my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
48 For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness;
    behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
49 The Mighty One has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is from age to age
    to those who fear him.
51 He has shown might with his arm,
    dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
52 He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones
    but lifted up the lowly.
53 The hungry he has filled with good things;
    the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped Israel his servant,
    remembering his mercy,
55 according to his promise to our fathers,
    to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Angels Appear to Shepherds in the Field

And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord…And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.   (Luke 2:8-11; 2:17-19)

Mary’s “pondering” is a deep contemplation of the recent events, and the words told to her by Angel Gabriel, her cousin, Elizabeth and now the Shepherds. 

Integrating Elizabeth’s proclamation that she was the “Mother of her Lord” and now the revelation of the angels to the shepherds that her son was the Christ, her understanding deepened having just participated in the miracle of the virgin birth of her son. 

As a pious Jewish woman, she would have recalled the prophesy of Isaiah (7:14):

…the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.  

And she as began to recognize herself in this prophesy and ponder the meaning of Immanuel which is “God Saves”, she would recognize how God was revealing His plan and her role within it.

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2:21)

Jesus Is Presented in the Temple

22 And when the time came for their purification… they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And inspired by the Spirit, he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29 “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,
according to thy word;
30 for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
31 which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to thy people Israel.”

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; 34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,

“Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel,
and for a sign that is spoken against;
35 and a sword will pierce through your own soul also
that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.”   (Luke 2:22-35)

While amazed by the prophecy of Simeon, Mary would have been struck by his words of warning.  She would understand that both she and her son would suffer sorrow.

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; 43 and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.  …seeking him, they returned to Jerusalem. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; 47 and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” 49 And he said to them, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. (Luke 2:41-51)

Finally, upon finding Jesus astonishing all at the temple, which he calls His Father’s House; Mary further ponders His role and revelation of His Father as God. 

Final Thoughts:

Mary lived a life of contemplation of the all the mysteries of Her son’s life.  She experienced God uniquely.  Bewildered at the Angel’s greeting at the Annunciation, overwhelmed by her cousin Elizabeth’s revelation, astonished with the Shephard’s announcement as her son as the Christ, concerned by Simeon’s warning and perplexed by Jesus claim to be the Son of God. 

Mary is the first to begin to understand and ponder the Trinity.  She knows her son is both Lord and Son of the most high.

Reflection:  Take a few minutes to reflect on one of Mary’s experiences as the Mother of God, answering the corresponding question(s):

·       Visitation by an Angel:  Are you open to the will of God?  How do you contemplate your role in His plan for your life?

·       Overshadowing by the Holy Spirit:  Are you docile to the Holy Spirit? Do you follow the prompting’s of the Holy Spirit?

·       Miraculous birth:  How do you see God’s hand in your life?

·       Interceding t the Wedding at Cana: How can Mary intercede for you?  And you for others?

·       Experiencing the Crucifixion, death and resurrection of her son:  How do you acknowledge what Jesus has done for you?  Do you seek and follow Him?

·       Pentacost: Do you ask the Holy Spirt to guide you?  Do you repond to the movements of Holy Spirit in your life?