RUTTER — Reflecting on these things in our hearts

A wistfulness captured me as I read Chapter 2 of St. Luke’s Gospel in preparation for the Epiphany of the Lord Mass.

The evangelist gives us three wonderful snippets of Jesus’ birth, the shepherds visit, and his presentation at the Temple.

What moves me to tears in each of these vignettes is Luke’s poignant telling of Mary’s reaction to the events unfolding in her life. Three separate times we receive a glimpse into Mary’s inner thoughts and feelings, thoughts and feelings that grip all mothers regardless of time.

When the shepherds visit the Holy Family in Bethlehem and recount the story of how the angel came to them announcing the Messiah’s birth, Luke shares with us that “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart,” (Luke 2:19).

When Mary and Joseph take their infant son Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem for consecration to “present him to the Lord” (Luke 2:22), they encounter the devout Simeon and the prophetess Anna. Both had been waiting for this day when the Messiah would arrive at the Temple. Both astounded the parents with praise and honor for the Infant Savior.

And then, Simeon turns to Mary, saying, “(and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed,” (Luke 2:35).

Although not among this past weekend’s readings, we recall another moment when Luke gives us insight into Mary’s thoughts. It is of the Holy Family attending the annual Passover festival in Jerusalem when they discovered their 12-year-old son Jesus was missing among the travelers caravanning home to Nazareth.

Mary and Joseph break away from the group and hurry back to Jerusalem to find him in the Temple with the teachers.

Witnessing this scene, we learn that “his mother kept all these things in her heart,” (Luke 2:51).

Mothers, we hold our infant children in our arms and imagine a future filled with joy and good things. We pray that their lives are blessed with faith, love, happiness and opportunity.

Surely, our dear Mary did so, as well. How open and vulnerable Mary’s heart must have grown to know that her son was destined to be our Savior and yet would be stung by rejection.

What mother (and father) does not sing with joy in her heart knowing her child is loved? What mother (and father) does not feel the pierce of a sword when her child is hurt?

We, like Mary, hold all these things in our hearts.

The moments in our children’s lives swirl inside us. They are wonderful, sad, frightening, amazing, heartbreaking and glorious.

Like Mary, we need only accept the Spirit’s presence and will to capture them and forge us to God as is gold in a hot furnace.

And so I pray: Dear Lord, let this be a time of joy, wonderment, awe, light and glory. Let us take today, these moments of truly recognizing the beauty and truth of Christ’s Incarnation and think only, act only, feel only the depth of joy, wonderment, awe, light and glory. The world will come upon us soon enough. Let today be a day that our hearts reflect only praise and gratitude.

Jane Rutter is a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Columbia. She can be reached at ejanerutter@gmail.com.