Advent December 19

December 19

“But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them.” Luke 2:19

I suspect that 2020 is going to be looked back on as the year when everything changed. The history books will say it is when we were blindsided. The economy was booming, the future looked bright and out of nowhere we were struck by a worldwide pandemic. Lockdowns caused widespread economic collapse. Businesses went bankrupt. Racial unrest and violence plagued our cities. Churches closed their doors. Families and friends were not allowed to visit for fear of passing deadly germs. And political differences sparked by a contentious presidential election caused hate and division. We all will carry scars from the events of the past year. Loved ones lost to Covid, suicide or undiagnosed/diagnosed-too-late illnesses, the failure of business adventures we had spent years building, lost relationships, fear, anxiety, and disillusionment over the state of the world around us, lost opportunities to celebrate life events like graduations, weddings, new babies and funerals that we had assumed would always be available to us, and anger at those around us who don’t have the same perspective we have about what is really important.

The year leading up to Jesus’ birth must have felt like 2020 to Mary. She was a sweet innocent teenage girl engaged to marry a good man. Her life was simple, and her future looked bright. And then suddenly everything changed. She was blindsided. Out of nowhere an angel appeared to her and told her she was going to bear a Son and He would be the Son of God. From that moment on nothing was the same. Looking at it now, we see it as something wonderful, a great opportunity and a privilege and to be sure, it was. But at the time, it brought much chaos and confusion. It was a major disruption to her life. It marred her reputation, endangered her engagement, and put a strain on her relationships with family and friends. And just when things seemed to be settling down, Joseph agreed to continue the engagement and it was nearing the time for the birth, they were forced to take a long trip to register for the census. And while they were gone, she went into labor and had to deliver her baby in a barn, in a foreign city, with only Joseph to help her. She must have imagined that giving birth to the Messiah would bring with it honor and privilege, but that is not how it played out. There was no pomp and circumstance. As a matter of fact, a few shepherds from a nearby field and some strangers from a foreign land were the only ones who even acknowledged the occasion.

Mary’s reaction wasn’t anger or resentment. She didn’t throw herself a pity party. She didn’t get mad at God or at the people around her because her dreams and plans had been changed. The verse above tells us that she treasured up all these things in her heart and meditated on them. Instead of reacting, Mary reflected. She took it all in and allowed God to shape her perspective. When we are in the midst of the chaos, it is often difficult to see things clearly. We need times to step back, rest and reflect. As this year draws to a close, I pray that each of us would take some time to reflect and meditate and allow God to shape our perspective as well.