Holy Pondering

Painting by Kirt Harmon

“But Mary treasured all this words and pondered them in her heart.” -Luke 2:16

 

Mary was amazed at what these poor shepherds had to say about their experience that led them to her newborn son, and she treasured and pondered them in her heart.

 

How do we ponder? I think we have a lot to ponder? 

 

As I settled into prayer, I asked for the grace to ponder. My first thought was that I have never had such an extended period of time since being with my parents. Even my siblings, who both live within one kilometer of my parents in Newfoundland didn’t see them over Christmas due to a close contact with a Covid-positive case.

 

So, I pondered the impact of Covid in our lives.

 

I think we need to sit and ponder all that we have been through over these past two years. It’s been difficult – exceedingly difficult for some.

 

In his homily last night, Pope Francis called the Church to re-awaken our amazement, our holy wonder, our holy pondering about what was said about this child. He went on to say, “…if Christmas is reduced to superficial sentimentalism nothing changes. Tomorrow will be like yesterday and next year will be like last year. Superficial sentimentalism is like warming ourselves for a few seconds by a straw fire rather than exposing our entire beings to the power of the event of Christ’s birth…Mary’s heart is filled with amazement without the shadow of shallow romanticism or superficial sentimentalism.”

 

Of course, she would be, young girls down grow up dreaming of having a baby in a barn in a town they are not from. Reality has a way of causing us to ponder.

 

What are you pondering?

On this day when the Church remembers Mary as Mother of God; Mother of the Word made flesh, I am pondering that Mary is good at keeping us grounded in faith that is worked out in reality. 

 

Mary is not afraid of reality, or God working out God’s will in the plain ol’ ordinary of our lives.

 

I am pondering the mystery of Christ that is encountered in the ordinary.

 

How have you encountered God in the ordinary over the past two years? 

 

I have memories of being in a palliative care ward with a family as mom died. The love that family showed one another gave me hope.

 

As a new pastor, I am pondering spiritual leadership. I ponder the fact that our bishop was so committed to supporting the homeless that when obstacles in his plan to build tiny emergency shelters on Church property hit a snag with city bureaucrats, I didn’t take no for an answer. He amended his plan, which resulted in these heated tiny emergency shelters being on our property.

 

I am pondering a conversation I had with a father who inspires me.

 

I am pondering our parish. I spoke to a man a couple days ago who suffered a brutal brain injury a few years ago. He came to our parish church a couple weeks before this latest lockdown and he was overwhelmed by the wonderful welcome he received here. It moved him greatly. He experienced God through your ordinary, friendly, kindness. I am pondering the gift of hospitality.

 

Mary only desires that we know her son. She points us toward Jesus and says, “There He is; He is your hope; He is the way; He will give your life the freedom to pursue meaning and purpose.”

 

What are the superficial things that Pope Francis warns us that we are clinging to and how are they in brought into clear focus by seeing what Mary is pointing us toward in the midst of our ordinary life?

 

As we journey through 2022 may we see the blessings that are in the midst of the ordinary and may be a blessing to others.

 

May the Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face to shine upon you, 

and be gracious to you;

the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,

and give you peace.

 

How do we ponder?

 

Be open to seeing the hand of God moving in our ordinary reality.

 

As a parish named after Mary in her ancient role as Stella Maris, Star of the Sea, I challenge everyone in the parish to pray the rosary daily. Let us ask Mary to show us the fruit of her womb. If that sounds too daunting, maybe you can ponder one of the mysteries each day. Ponder these great mysteries of our faith…Treasure them in your heart, like Mary did.

 

God Bless your holy pondering.

 

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.