Lectio: Luke 2:15-21
January 1, 2010
Luke 2:15-21
15-18As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
19-20Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told.
21When the eighth day arrived, the day of circumcision, the child was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived.
I am struck by the sheepherders sense of urgency in this passage. Different translations say things like “they went with haste” and they “hurried off” to find the yet unnamed Jesus. Mary’s response, on the other hand, in the midst of these cosmos-shaking events was “to treasure them in her heart” or as Peterson translates to “hold them deep within herself.” The shepherds let loose and were very verbose in their praise to God and sharing with everyone they met. Mary held back and pondered the events deep in her heart. Two very different responses to the same event.
I love that God makes room for different personalities and ways of responding to his revelation! There’s room in the kingdom-mansion for the cloistered contemplatives and the wild-eyed Pentecostals, the Mary’s and the Shepherds, the introverts and the extroverts, the book worms and the party-ers, the quiet and the verbose, the over-talkative Peters and the mystical Johns.
I met with an old friend yesterday and he has been part of a church that is going after a “culture of revival” (his words). This translates to a lot of exuberance and praise and a high expectation for healing and signs and wonders. Typically my first response when hearing about churches like this is: “What is wrong with me? Am I lacking faith? Why don’t I see or expect more miracles?” Today’s passage was a helpful reminder that there are many different ways to respond to what God is doing. Quiet reflection is appropriate AND exuberance is appropriate. God not only makes room for both but embraces both without judgement.
+++ Lord, thank you for the diversity of personality in your kingdom! Please help me to accept the way I’m wired - the way you already do! - and rejoice with those who respond differently without feeling threatened. Thank you for the path you have put me on. Help me to embrace that path fully and follow you wholeheartedly into this new year… +++
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