Daily Worship

Golden memories to treasure

Laura Digan December 28, 2024 5 6
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Luke 2: 19-20 (NRSVA)

19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

At the time of reading this Christmas day will be over. I pray that you have had a blessed Christmas and have made memories that you can treasure. But I know that won’t be the case for everyone. For some of us this will be the first Christmas without a dear loved one. Some of us will not have had family around us. Some of us may have had to work. Some of us may be anxious or facing illness. 

What we have to remember is that that first Christmas God came to earth, to live with us humans in the reality and messiness of life. God was born to a young, poor couple. God was born surrounded by animals and placed in a manger. The first people to visit God were humble, working class men. God would soon become a refugee in a foreign land. 

I wonder what Mary pondered in her heart that first Christmas?

Last Sunday in church we sang the song ‘Mary Did You Know’. This song always makes me emotional. I wonder what Mary thought that first Christmas as she held her baby boy? 

“Mary did you know…
This child that you’ve delivered will soon deliver you?”

It is nearly 25 years ago, but I remember like it was yesterday, holding my new born son in my arms and promising him that I was going to keep him safe, to be the best Mum I could be. 

I wonder what Mary pondered in her heart that night. What words did she speak to the baby Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us? 

“And when you kiss your little baby
You’ve kissed the face of God…
Mary did you know?”

Mary heard the wonder in the voices of the shepherds but did she also feel the presence of the cross? 

That God had come to live among us, to show us how to live but would suffer and die to save us? 

Friends, no matter how your Christmas has been, know that God is with you. 

 

Prayer:

 

Lord Jesus, Emmanuel, God With Us

Thank you

Amen