And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God January 1, 2023

Nm 6:22-27 Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 Gal 4:4-7 Lk 2:16-21

“And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”

As I reflect on these words from our Gospel reading, I can’t help but recall the birth of our first born, Alyssa. While Bonnie was pregnant with her, she would ask me to speak to Alyssa in her womb so she could hear and recognize my voice once she was born. I didn’t really know what to say, so instead I would sing a song called “You are Child.” When Alyssa was born, she was three weeks premature, and the nurses took her to the special newborn nursery for preemies and placed her under a bright warm lamp. Alyssa was crying hysterically, and I did not know what to do, so I began to sing “You are child of the universe, you are no less than the trees and the stars. You are child of the Lord of Light, be still and know I am God you are child.” As I was singing Alyssa became calm and quiet as she held on to my pinky while recognizing my voice. That is one of the many moments, as a parent, that I keep in my heart and reflect on. All of us have these special moments in our lives that give us pause and cause us to reflect on the beautiful gifts and blessings we receive from God our heavenly Father.

So, what might have been all the things that gave Mary pause and caused her to keep them, reflecting on them in her heart?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says this: “The Gospels were written by men who were among the first to have the faith and wanted to share it with others. Having known in faith who Jesus is, they could see and make others see the traces of his mystery in all his earthly life. From the swaddling clothes of his birth to the vinegar of his Passion and the shroud of his Resurrection, everything in Jesus' life was a sign of his mystery.” *

And so, I believe that everything, from the beginning of chapter 2 of Luke’s Gospel, from the town of Bethlehem to the Shepherds, the manger, and the swaddling clothes, were all part of thy mystery of her first-born son that she may have reflected on. And if we want to know our Lord, as Mary does, then we too should reflect on all these things and on what they might be revealing to us about the Lord’s mystery; about whom he is, both in his Divine and Human nature.

Let’s begin with the town of Bethlehem, the City of David. As a result of the census, Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem because Joseph was a descendent of the House of David. We know that the Messiah was to come from the House of David. However, in addition to this, the name Bethlehem means House of Bread. Think about that as we contemplate how Jesus would call himself the Bread of Life, would multiply loaves of bread twice to feed the multitude of people, and at the Last Supper took bread and said to his Disciples this is my body given up for you. There is a lot to reflect on with regards to Jesus being born in the town of Bethlehem, the City of David. Now add to this that he was laid in a manger, which is a feeding trough. Jesus came to be our nourishment to sustain us and give us life, and we are able to participate in this Bread of Life each time we come to Mass and receive him in the Eucharist. But there is more!

Jesus is the first-born son of Mary. What does this mean? Does this mean Mary had other sons? NO! Rather, it is a legal description indicating that Jesus possessed the rights and privileges of the first-born son. **

But not only is he the first-born son of Mary, he is also the first-born son of the Heavenly Father, and the first to be resurrected after dying on the Cross. And as Saint Paul tells us in our second reading, born under the law, to ransom us who are also born under the law. For us to become adopted sons and daughters and heirs of the Kingdom of God. That’s a lot to reflect on, but there’s still more!

What about the swaddling clothes as mentioned in the Catechism? What is the significance of swaddling clothes? After all it is mentioned twice in Luke’s Gospel. First in verse 7 where Mary “wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,” and again in verse 12 when the Angel says to the shepherds “And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

First, we can look to king Solomon as he tells us of his own birth in the book of Wisdom: “And I too, when born, inhaled the common air, and fell upon the kindred earth; ... In swaddling clothes and with constant care I was nurtured. For no king has any different origin or birth.” ***

As great a king as Solomon was, he recognized that he, like any other, was born of humble beginnings, and as was the custom, was wrapped in swaddling clothes. And so here Luke reveals to us the humanity of Jesus, to be like any other human child wrapped in swaddling clothes.

But is that all there is to “the swaddling clothes?” And what of the shepherds? Why were they the first to hear the news of the Messiah’s birth?

“To whom do the angels appear to announce this remarkable event, this ‘good news of great joy that will be for all the people’? the high priest? the rich and important residents of Bethlehem? No. The announcement is made to shepherds, poor workers living in the fields nearby. Like Mary, the shepherds are people of little power and significance. Luke makes the point that sometimes what the world sees as unimportant, God honors. … The poorest in our world, the most hidden people who have no power, hold a special place in the heart of God. And, like shepherds, poor people often know God better than those who are rich or powerful by the world’s standards.” ****

But is that the only reason the shepherds were the first to hear the announcement of the birth of the Messiah? There well could be another according to one tradition. Legend has it that the sheep tended to by King David, outside the Town of Bethlehem, and by the shepherds in this Gospel, were meant for sacrifice. That when the first-born male lamb was delivered, the shepherds wrapped it in swaddling clothes and laid it in a manger so it would not harm itself and could be inspected by a Levitical Priest to make sure there was no spot or blemish. Whether this is true or not, much like John who told his disciples to follow Jesus as he exclaimed “there goes the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” The Angel of the Lord proclaims to these shepherds the news of the Messiah’s birth and to go find him laying in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes, the first-born who is the Lamb of God. And as the shepherds shared their experience with Mary, she kept all of this in her heart and reflected on them. As should we.

Additionally, Jesus, calls himself the Good Shepherd, and this Shepherd has become our King. Much like David, a shepherd, delivered his people by defeating Goliath and later became their King. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, defeats sin and death, and is our King of the Universe. A Shepherd King who wants us to hear his voice so we may know through him and through his sacrifice, the love the Father has for us.

Now, I’ll leave you with this one last thought. All of us, like Mary, are beloved sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, and as we cry out Abba! Father! He looks on us as Mary looked upon her son, with all the love and care a parent can have for their child. And through his first-born Son, Jesus, he calls us to himself as he longs for us to be born again into eternal life with him. To share all eternity with him. Let us hear his voice as he calls to us: “You are child of the universe, you are no less than the trees and the stars. You are child of the Lord of Light, be still and know I am God you are child.”

https://youtu.be/ZFnSyuCK6FU?t=907

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Notes:

* CCC 515: The Gospels were written by men who were among the first to have the faith and wanted to share it with others. Having known in faith who Jesus is, they could see and make others see the traces of his mystery in all his earthly life. From the swaddling clothes of his birth to the vinegar of his Passion and the shroud of his Resurrection, everything in Jesus' life was a sign of his mystery. His deeds, miracles and words all revealed that "in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily." His humanity appeared as "sacrament", that is, the sign and instrument, of his divinity and of the salvation he brings: what was visible in his earthly life leads to the invisible mystery of his divine sonship and redemptive mission.

** (Gn 27; Ex 13:2; Nm 3:12–13; 18:15–16; Dt 21:15–17)

*** Wisdom 7:3a, 4-5 And I too, when born, inhaled the common air, and fell upon the kindred earth;... In swaddling clothes and with constant care I was nurtured. For no king has any different origin or birth.

**** From The New American Bible – The Catholic Youth Bible. LIVE IT! – Jesus’ Birth: Good News to the Poor