Deep listening with Matthew
by Libby Jewson
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19).
Read Luke 2:15–21
These devotions reflect on the week’s readings through a narrative retelling. As the writer reflected, meditated and prayed over the texts, she says a story started to emerge. This is an imagined dialogue formed between Matthew and a Bethlehem mother affected by Herod’s massacre. The devotions follow this mother’s reflections across the week, inviting us to consider God’s compassion, faithfulness and hope.
Happy New Year, Matthew! I am so surprised that you are interested in my story and want to spend time learning about what has happened since our little boy died. I wonder what the new year will bring for you.
At the start of each year, I find myself reflecting on all the things I have learnt and seen and wonder what I will discover this year. I also find myself thinking about the amazing story of the birth of Jesus – here in Bethlehem, just along the road past my house, in an animal shed. The owner’s wife is my friend. They kept in touch with Mary and Joseph from time to time and heard how they were getting on after the incredible things that happened there when Jesus was born in their animal shed.
My friend told me that Mary was quiet and kept her story to herself in her heart. She seemed to radiate wisdom, and yet she also knew and understood what was in store for her in her life and the lives of the rest of her family. Somehow, when our little boy died, I, too, kept things in my heart – Mary’s response, one way or another, gave me permission to do the same.
And yet talking to you today has helped me to share some of my experiences and reflections like no other time. My friend said that Mary was also able to share with a few of her trusted women friends. They listened to Mary share all the things she had pondered in her heart over the years. And she said Mary listened like no other.
I also think about this new year and wonder about all those who have things pondered in their hearts – I hope and pray that, like you, Matthew, and like Mary, I can listen deeply to my friends and truly hear what they are saying.
I pray that God’s Spirit will encourage and enable me to listen and learn, and together, we can share our faith stories with respect and love. Amen.
Libby is recently retired and lives alongside the Moorabool Valley, in Central West Victoria. She loves walking, hiking, exploring, cycling on her beautiful bike ‘Ruby’, gardening, music, appreciating beauty, watching good movies and TV series, reading, sharing meals with friends and family and enjoys tending her orchard of heritage quinces. Libby is an active member of Living Faith Lutheran Church Geelong and spends time volunteering with the Melanie Jewson Foundation with her husband, Gary, and their other two adult children, André and Ashlee. Together, they run a small business called Quincey Fizz. Libby is very thankful to have had the opportunity to study in the Graduate Diploma in Divinity program at Australian Lutheran College this year.
- Click here to read previous devotions.
- We are also posting them on LCA Facebook, making it easy for you to share them with family and friends.
- Sign up to receive Daily Devotion in your inbox every morning. If you’re already doing that, please encourage others to sign up. Click here for the link.
