Ponder the Problem

How do you communicate with people? During advent we learned how to work with people generally. This is the first of a three part series where we will learn from the Holy Family how God helps us to communicate. Too often we talk about things that don't interest people. You need to first, Ponder the Problem.

1. Ponder the Problem, Mary
2. See God’s Glory, Jesus
3. Get Up and Go, Joseph

People Don’t Listen

Have you ever felt like people don’t listen to you?  You can imagine Joseph and Mary trying to get a place to stay in Bethlehem. They would try to explain to people how important this was. Mary might have said something like, “Listen you’ve got to believe me. I’m about to have a baby.” Most people turned them away. They thought to themselves, “Not my problem!” 

Not Their Problem

If people cannot understand how a message directly affects them, then they will not be interested. Throughout history God has tried to communicate with people. God called patriarchs and matriarchs. Moses received the law and shared it with the people. Prophets and Judges rose up to shepherd the people. But the people don’t listen. There are too many other problems to deal with. Even today many people choose to skip out on church and religious life because there are so many other problems to deal with. 

God Captures Attention with a Problem

The birth of Jesus changes everything for Mary and all of creation. One second Mary was being totally ignored, the next moment she becomes the center of attention. Angels announce Jesus’ birth. Shepherds come to praise him. Wisemen come bearing gifts. Animals marvel at the child. All this happens because a new king has been born.

When a new king is born, it can be a big problem for many people. It disrupts the current political and social order. The shepherds, who were at the bottom of pecking order, make it a priority to get in good with the new king. When King Herod finds out about it, he is terrified. God gets people to listen with this new born king.

You Can Capture Attention Too

Throughout her life Mary oscillates from being at the center of attention, to being ignored. Each time this happens we can be sure that Mary, “Pondered all these things in her heart.”

• Simeon and Anna  the prophets who lived in the temple took Jesus from Mary’s arms and prophesied that he would save the people. Luke 2:34-35
• Jesus goes missing to Mary and Joseph when he was about 12 years old. He ditches his family to hang out in the temple and debate theology with the priests. Mary pondered why he would do this. Luke 2:48
• Mary visit Jesus preaching And he was told, "Your Mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you." But he said to them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it." Luke 8:19-21 Mary pondered what the problem was.

Ponder the Problem

Jesus died on the cross and Mary was alive to endure it. Three days later he resurrected. The disciples gathered in the Upper Room where they had shared the Last Supper. They were figuring out what would be next. How would they tell this story and get people to listen?  Mary was there with them. “All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.” Acts 1:13-14

Mary should be counted as one of the apostles. She understood the first and most important step in communicating with people: Ponder the Problem. What is is that people are dealing with, and how can God’s love for us in Jesus help them? Take the time to learn from the faithfulness of Mary. Ponder the problem.

For more Lutheran reflections on Mary click here.