But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart—Luke 2:19, ESV

Christmas Eve and Christmas turn our thoughts and hearts toward the birth of Jesus.  Even the most avowed Atheist must recognize that the reason we even celebrate at this time of year is because of a baby born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago.  Tonight, I deliver a Christmas Eve homily.  Not really a sermon, just a meditation upon Christ and Christmas.  Reading through Luke 2, what struck me most was verse 19.

Luke 2:19 teaches us two important Christmas lessons.  The first lesson is to treasure all the things of Christ.  Mary treasures ‘all these things.’  Those things, Luke 2 relates, include the birth of Jesus.  Who doesn’t treasure the birth of a child?  Especially one’s first born.  While each child and each birth is unique, it is when that first son or daughter comes into the world that we become ‘Mom’ or ‘Dad.’  Everything changes at that point—we can never go back to life before children.

So Mary treasures the birth of her first son.  Yet, she knows there is more to this birth than meets the eye.  She knows the conception was miraculous.  She knows the promise of the Angel Gabriel.  She knows the in-utero joy of John.  On that night, after Jesus is born, she knows the confirmation of the shepherds.

These men arrive, looking specifically for her son.  They come with a wonderous story!  As they watched their sheep, angels visited them.  These heavenly creatures brought them good news of great joy!  The angels related the birth of the Christ, in the city of David (Bethlehem).  The angels described how they would find the baby—and that description fit Jesus, the son of Mary, whom they found lying in a manger.

Like Mary, we must treasure the things of Christ.  This is the lesson of the Treasure Hidden in the Field (Matthew 13:44).  Jesus teaches that the kingdom of God is like a treasure hidden in a field.  When a man finds it, he joyfully sells everything—in order to purchase that field.  So it is with Christ.  When a man realizes who Jesus is, he gladly gives up everything to follow.

How we treasure is just as important as what we treasure.  Luke 2:19 teaches that Mary treasured by pondering these things in her heart.  Mary wasn’t content to say, “Okay, here’s the baby.”  Everything surrounding this birth was miraculous.  She didn’t want to forget one sliver of it, and she wanted to grasp fully the whole event.  So she pondered it.

On my kids birthdays I ponder their births, the events and the changes each birth wrought.  I recall the birth of Logan, our oldest.  The snowstorm we drove through to the hospital, the 20 hours of watching my wife give birth to him, the moment he arrived.  With Connor I remember racing back from Bloomington, Indiana in a Piper Saratoga II HP.  I missed most of the labor, but arrived in time for his birth.  With Alexis, our daughter, there was the shortest hospital stay, another snowstorm, a relatively quick delivery, and the same room our oldest was born in.

I also ponder the changes wrought by each birth.  With Logan we were now Parents.  Everything, save Christ, now supported the nurture of this child.  With Connor we learned the meaning of work—trying to chase two kids seemed more than twice as hard as one.  With Alexis we found teamwork, as Logan tries hard to help out with her and Connor, especially when Mommy first came home and Alexis needed so much attention.

It seems quite fitting that Mary would ponder ‘these things.’  Likewise, it is fitting that we ponder them, too.  If we are to know Christ and be transformed by Him, we must set aside time to ponder His person, His work and His teaching.  To contemplate how life is and should be different because of Him.  So, let me ask you to set aside time tonight and tomorrow and often to quietly ponder Jesus.