In the Gospel of St. Luke, there are two significant moments where it is mentioned that Mary kept everything in her heart. The first was during the Nativity of Jesus, and the second happened during the finding of Jesus in the temple. These are two different moments that pierced through the heart of Mary, and these two distinct experiences teach us a lot of things.
So, what can we learn from the moments where Mary kept everything in her heart?
1. The Nativity
”And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” — Luke 2:19
When the shepherds met Mary at the manger during the Nativity, they told her, with urgency and excitement, the prophecy about the newborn Jesus Christ—that He was to become the Savior of humanity.
It was indeed a moment of celebration, but at the same time, for Mary, it was a moment to ponder. She sought to understand what was being revealed to her. Yet, what she chose to do was ponder everything in her heart.
Sometimes great things happen in our lives. We experience abundant blessings, and sometimes we find ourselves in a state of trying to understand everything that is occurring around us. Mary’s experience during the Nativity is a reminder to reflect. It might be overwhelming, and we might get too excited, but Mary teaches us to pause and reflect so that what is good can be processed by our hearts.
Mary teaches us the value of having a moment of silence. After hearing good news, we should take time to reflect. Do we still make time to ponder? Do our hearts know what it feels like to pause? When life becomes overwhelming, find peace by pondering the good news of the Lord—just like Mary kept it in her heart.
2. Finding Jesus in the Temple
”…and his mother kept all these things in her heart.” — Luke 2:51
Unlike the first moment, the second is a complete opposite. Mary and Joseph had been looking for Jesus for three days. Naturally, they were filled with anxiousness. Eventually, they found Jesus in the temple, preaching to the crowd. When Jesus told them, “Why were you looking for me…?” they did not understand His words right away. And Mary, of course, kept it all in her heart.
Sometimes, this happens to us too. We ask the Lord, “Why is this happening in our lives?” All the sorrow or pain we experience makes us wonder why. Sometimes, because of these trials, we even start questioning the existence of God or turning away from Him. But in the Gospel of St. Luke, Mary teaches us how to face uncertainty in the midst of sorrow. The Gospel tells us that, once again, Mary kept everything in her heart.
When sorrowful moments occur in our lives, may we learn to keep everything in our hearts. Let us not allow our sorrows to take us away from Jesus Christ. In fact, just like Mary, may we use our sorrow to seek Jesus even more.
Mary kept everything in her heart.
It is so beautiful to look at the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Her heart does not only remind us of her purity; it also reminds us of her perseverance in the midst of uncertainty. It reminds us of what it means to be a good witness in total humility.
It reminds us that if our hearts are pure—even without a stage, a spotlight, or a microphone to preach the gospel—God can still use us to transform the lives of others. All it takes is having a pure and persevering heart like Mary’s.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!
