³⁴  And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed ³⁵  (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” 

Luke 2:34-35

I was reflecting on this passage from today’s Gospel at Mass. While also thinking about her reaction when finding Jesus in the Temple when he was 12, “And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.”

This aspect made me think of how aware Mary was of her son’s future. Simeon didn’t proclaim that this was a “spoiler alert” first. People would oppose and contradict her son, and this was a future that would “pierce her heart.” Mary knew her son was more than another prophet, along with the fate of prophets in sacred texts. These are not comforting thoughts.

Specifically, this brought in mind to me the wedding feast at Cana when Mary tells Jesus, “They have no wine.” (John 2:3) I think she was well aware of the stakes when she requested this of him. Aware that this might be the “hour” that sets Jesus on the road that would physically pierce him and subsequently piercing her own heart. What she reflected on in her heart had come to fruition. The decisive point where his public mission would begin. Her son’s seeming rebuke of her request is a tacit acceptance that his hour had come.

She tells the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Her years of contemplation results in the perfect encapsulation for the role of the disciple. She did not understand the saying Jesus gave her and Joseph at the Jerusalem Temple on the Feast of the Passover, but her life shows us that asking questions about God’s plans and not fully understanding them is also part of being a disciple.

I was thinking about today’s Gospel reading from Luke 1:5–25 involving Zechariah.

One of my jokes is:

Gabriel: Zechariah, do you know what a silent retreat is?

Zechariah: No.

Gabriel: You are about to find out.

Still, It seems so indicative of the human condition. Your prayer is actually answered, maybe not as timely as you wanted, and your reaction is doubt. Not only is Zechariah’s prayer answered, but the answer is delivered by an archangel. And yet he doubted.

When the times arrive where we doubt God’s love and providence for us, it would be good that we were also delivered into silence. Time spent in silence so that on the other side we are filled with gratitude and our first words are ones of praise.

Zechariah was a Levite priest who would have been well aware of all the times in scripture, where barrenness became fruitfulness. Possibly he knew these stories well and believed in them, but his belief did not include that they could happen to him and his wife. I can relate to this in that my acceptance of the faith is total, and yet easily forget how God works in my life. That grace and miracles are alive for other people, but not for a spiritual dud like me. God can bring fruitfulness even out of my inner barrenness.