“…and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).  

    The shepherds came to see the baby, and when they did, they shared the news heralded by the angels in the field, emphasizing God’s outreach to ordinary people. Mary took the stories and held them within her heart. She knew that a messenger of God came to those doing their jobs just as they had visited Joseph and her nine months ago. They experienced the miraculous, and their lives would never be the same.
     I hope to be more like Mary, one who doesn’t rush to conclusions, but takes in the message of God with a spirit of wonder and awe. Experiencing her own miracle, she stood in wonder as men she did not know came to visit her son. First, she encountered shepherds, then wise men, and eventually the world. I often wonder how much more she could take in. In such a short time, the God that softly spoke to her when she committed to her faith now reveals miraculous sign after miraculous sign. With each affirmation that she witnessed, her belief in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob grew stronger.
     I remember attending church services for the very first time as a child. As I left, I felt God’s presence overwhelm me, filling me with a joy that felt like a warm blanket of safety. I often wondered if my feelings resembled Mary’s sacred thoughts. Like her, I kept my feelings to myself and treasured the profound awe that was too sacred to share with others.
     Today, let us remember that God’s power has fallen upon us, often without us realizing how our hearts can embrace His light. The Advent season invites us to reflect on sacred moments and hold our feelings close. We may continue to discover God’s incredible works and live in hope for a brighter future. Let Him break down the walls we set to keep others out. May He empower us to journey with the Most High in trust and hope.