On two occasions in Luke 2, we read of Mary treasuring the things she had learned (Luke 2:19, 51) and pondering them. There could be no doubt that the angelic visitation announcing that she would become the mother of Jesus must have been an extraordinary experience. Hers was a pregnancy like no other, and although she had the confirmation of Elizabeth’s unusual pregnancy and her own experience, she must have pondered all that was happening to her over those months of gestation. It was not an ‘ideal’ situation for a teenage girl to find herself in, nor was it ‘ideal’ to have to travel to Bethlehem so close to giving birth and then having to give birth in a stable full of animals. There was much to ponder about during this period in her life.
There was very little that was ‘ideal’ or ‘normal’ about this experience. Dirty, dishevelled shepherds were the first visitors to the Messiah, and perhaps not exactly welcome ones initially, but as Mary listened to their stories of angels, she must have reflected that God was definitely doing something special. Later, as Jesus was circumcised and dedicated to the Lord, Mary encountered another miracle to ponder, the proclamation and prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:22-35).
Simeon had to wait many years for the fulfilment of God’s promise to him that he would see the Messiah, In that respect, Mary’s promise was fulfilled relatively quickly, but Simeon had eyes to see beyond the infant child and talked of a sword piercing Mary’s soul. It probably made little sense to Mary at the time, but as she treasured these words and pondered them, she realised that God was in control of all things and was working out a greater plan than she could at that time see.
We must be like Simeon, alert to God’s ‘nudges’ and willing to wait patiently for what God has promised. He will complete all that He has started and will answer us in ways that perhaps astound and confuse us. Our job is to welcome those He sends into our midst with love and care, even if they are not the ‘ideal’ people and don’t fit into our preconceived ideas and expectations. The call is for us to be alert and aware of what God is doing so that we recognise HIs workings. We don’t want to miss out on anything that God is doing, however unexpected this may be, and in order to perceive God’s action, we need to treasure and ponder all that He does.