But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19Today I was listening to a reading of Luke 2 again, and this verse especially struck me. It comes after the story of Mary and Joseph being sent off to the stable, her giving birth to Jesus, and the shepherds coming by to see the baby.
What caught my attention was that the gospels are all written by men and seem to come from a man's viewpoint, but this one specifically records the thoughts of a woman. The gospel of Luke is written by a physician, and the notes in my NIV Study Bible tell me that one of the characteristics of his writing is a "special concern for the role of women." How did he know that Mary treasured the memories of what happened that first Christmas? How did he know that she pondered them in her heart?
In my opinion, Luke interviewed Mary and heard the story from her perspective, which he included in his book. There's that story of the angel telling her she would "bring forth a son," and the story of Elizabeth and the birth of John the Baptist, and then the story of the birth and childhood of Jesus. Who would have known all of that, except Mary?
I wish he could have recorded her voice telling him all about it. I would love to hear her narration, to hear the thoughts she had as she pondered these things in her heart. Luke's gospel, I realized this morning, must be the one that includes Mary's story. I'd like to read it again, looking for the pieces that must have come from her. What is missing in Luke's gospel is her reflections on what it all meant. But maybe they're hidden between the lines, or delivered in his own voice.
The older I get, the more I want to hear the voices and the stories of women as they share their experiences and reflections on God. I think I've detected a very significant voice that I should be seeking out this Christmas season. I think she's there, peering out from behind a guy named Luke.
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