Pastor's Corner

for Christmas Eve Dec 24th
“A sword shall pierce your heart also” (Luke 2:35) these words were spoken to Mary by Simeon when Mary presented Jesus at the temple. How Mary must have pondered those words with no small amount of apprehension, wondering how Jesus would pierce her heart. Jesus’ childhood years growing up in Nazareth were probably as sweet to Mary as they are to any mother; as she saw Jesus become a man she was proud of him as any mother would be when they see their children grow up to be well grounded mature adults. Those years were her happiest years, yet interwoven through them all I’m sure were moments of curiosity, expectation, fear and dread that plucked at her heart-strings. Then as Jesus entered His ministry and she sees His miracles, I’m sure her heart thrilled with excitement knowing as she did who Jesus was. She sees the multitudes following Him, cringes a little perhaps when He confronts the leaders and teachers of the law about their hypocrisy, yet over all a proud mother rejoicing in her son’s impact on the world around Him. But then the tide of His popularity begins to turn and she watches the growing jealousy, the hatred, and the unbelief on the part of the leading men of her people culminating in the darkest of days for Mary, the day they nailed her beloved son to the cross. How that must have torn her heart to pieces yet she couldn’t leave His side and so stayed at the cross to the end. Then they laid Him in a borrowed grave with Mary weeping as any mother would who must bury her son. Three days later the Resurrection! How this must have healed Mary’s heart, her son is alive again, her doubts erased! But then her son ascends into heaven and her heart is pierced again because many continue to disbelieve, scorn and hate her son! Oh how these words of Simeon were fulfilled at so many levels. Mary, you are indeed “blessed among women”, may you inspire us all to be faithful even when God’s blessing brings pain.
Pastor Don.