The Manger of the Heart: Finding Intimacy in the Humble
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Luke 2:16-21
They went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Grace Prayed For
The Grace of Holy Wonder and Apostolic Zeal: Pray for the ability to treasure God’s presence in your heart as Mary did, and for the courage of the shepherds to speak of His love to everyone you meet, letting your joy be the first invitation to others.
Reflection
To find intimacy with Jesus is to follow the “haste” of the shepherds. They did not wait for a more convenient time or a more polished presentation; they ran toward the vulnerability of God. When you seek to prepare the way for the Lord in your own heart, look for Him in the small, quiet, and perhaps “messy” mangers of your daily life. He is often found in the places we least expect to find a King.
Notice the two movements of the soul in this passage: contemplation and proclamation.
First, there is Mary, who “kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” This is the core of intimacy. It is the practice of holding your experiences of God—the small graces, the answered prayers, the moments of peace—and turning them over in your heart like a treasure. Intimacy grows when we stop rushing past our encounters with Jesus and instead linger with Him, letting His presence settle deep within our bones.
Second, there are the shepherds, who “made known the message” and returned “glorifying and praising God.” This is your baptismal mission. Having seen the face of Love, you cannot remain the same. The shepherds didn’t need a theology degree to share the Good News; they simply told others what they had “heard and seen.” Your mission to share the love of Jesus with everyone you encounter is an overflow of your own amazement. When you allow yourself to be truly moved by His coming, your very life becomes a witness that draws others into the same wonder.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post