How are you? I remember clearly once hearing someone else’s great news, and being so happy that I could not help but share. I shared East, I shared South, I shared North, West AND Centre …
Until another friend calmed me down by reminding me whose story it was. How do you respond to good news? Consider today’s Holy Nougat
“All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.” Luke 2:18-19 NLT
These two perspectives on Jesus birth are contradictory. There were the shepherds, happy as larks, euphoric about their visit, making no bones about sharing the good news. Mary, on the other hand, was silent and reflective. Remember, no neighbors, family or friends were with Mary. We are not told that she knew those shepherds prior to their visit. But there they were – visiting with her and her divine gift, and were crediting angels for their appearance at the stable.
It is possible that Mary’s silence resulted from nine months’ experience with the mysteries of God. But that would not explain her reflection about the time spent with the shepherds. Shepherds who had been on the sidelines for so long until God sent angels to transform their lives! They couldn’t help but share!
My dears, sometimes it is important that we sit with our experiences and simply reflect on them. Even when it’s someone else’s story. There are times however, when we must share the Good News or burst. The kind that takes us High, Low, East, North, Centre, West and South. The news we can’t help but share, proclaiming, ‘Look what the Lord has done!’
My dear, truly there is a time and place for everything. May we have the discernment to know when to meditate and when to share.