MARY: A GENTLE HEART

One of the many well-known passages pointing towards Mary is the line that says, “…Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.” We can find this passage in the Gospel of Luke (2:19). This passage is in the context of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the same passage being used during the Solemnity of Mary as the Mother of God, which is being celebrated every January 1 of the year.

Let us begin to reflect on the passage with the question on why it is the passage being used during the solemnity? The passage is being used maybe with pure reflection that this capitulates a characteristic of a mother. All of us have mothers. Our mothers gave birth to us. One of the many characteristics of a mother is their heart. We may describe a mother as someone who uses more of her heart rather than her mind.

When a child is injured his or her mother usually asked, “is it painful? Are you alright?” A mother tries to know the condition of her child. She tries to feel the emotion of her child. Analysis of what happened only comes later. A mother forgets none of the things, which occur, involving her child. Everything a mother does or experiences – everything that is said of her, is treasured up in her mind.  A mother often thinks of those things, and anxiously seeks what the event may indicate respecting the future character and welfare of her child. That is why we could consider this as maybe one of the many reasons why the passage is being used during the solemnity.

Now let us try to look at the passage carefully. To start with we ask ourselves, what did Mary keep in her heart? Mary must have remembered all that happened: the cold journey, the faith and trust of Joseph, the place where they stayed, the first cry of the Jesus, the gross smell of the manger and the many unexpected visitors. All these things are some of what she kept in her heart.

Mary did not only treasure these events and details but rather she also tries to reflect on them. Mary reflects on everything that happens. She patiently connects all them and waits for the unfolding plan of God for her. She accepts things as they are and ponders on them in the silence of her heart. Her attitude allows God to take control of her very life. With love, she follows God’s will and God’s plan.

Mary reflected these things in silence. She remained quite and reflected. Mary stayed calm. Despite of the many things that happened to her so far, she kept her tranquility. She did not complain. She did not ask more questions. She was silent. It was not because she did not know what to do. It was not because she did not know what to say. It was not because she cannot accept what was happening. It was because she understands what she needed to do and that is to remain at peace.

Heart is what Mary used. She did not only think about the things that were happening. Mary did not only memorize them. She used her heart. We can equate the heart as to that of emotion.

Mary used her heart not without a reason. She did not only memorize what was happening because all these things are in the hand of God. She knew that her rational mind could not comprehend the events that are taking place. I once heard a person that says, “If your mind cannot comprehend something, use your heart.”

Mary also used her heart to sing praises to God. She knew that what the shepherds were saying were praises not for herself but to God. She praised God with her heart.

What then can we learn from this passage that points toward Mary? First, Mary is a model for reflecting. She studies them, ponders them and stores them in the silence of her heart. Mary teaches us how to reflect.

As theologians, we are called to reflect. We now ask ourselves, what are we reflecting about? We have lives, responsibilities, problems and so on. Yet, is this what we should be reflecting? What do we do in reflecting? Do we just merely sit and wait until an idea pops out from our mind? Do we talk until a good concept comes out from our mouth? What do we do in reflecting?

We cannot deny the fact that we are do the things asked above when we are reflecting. We forget to acknowledge the important elements in reflecting. Mary showed us.

Mary is showed us that we must reflect in silence. Silence does not necessarily means quietness in the surrounding. One can remain in silence even when his or her neighbor is playing loud music. Silence is an internal preparation. We are asked to be in silence when we reflect. Mary showed us that we do not need to talk when reflect. We just have to remain silent.

Mary also demonstrated to us that when we are reflecting we must use our heart. One of the key elements that we forget is the usage of heart. Sometimes, we have the tendency to use more of the mind than the heart. We think that reflecting is done using our mind but Mary has presented to us if we really want to reflect we need to use our heart.

Mary is truly a model, a model not only for mothers but also to all of us. Her exemplar life is full of demonstration of we should do. Mary not only in words but also in deeds showed us how we should live. As children of God, Mary showed us the value of reflecting in silence and with our heart.

Mary truly reflected the plan of God to her. She reflected them with her heart in silence. We then ask ourselves, how do we reflect? Do we reflect in silence with our Heart like Mary?