Luk 2:35 and a sword will pierce your soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’
does this mean that Jesus and Mary’s sorrows both would bring out the thoughts of many people… Does this last sentence connects only Jesus or Mary as well for it says and a sword will pierce your soul (too) …
Simeon was telling Mary that her son will be misunderstood and contradicted, this will cause the pain of a sword-thrust. But the rejection will force honesty so that God can reveal the truth. He was talking to Mary and Joseph.
Luk 2:35 and a sword will pierce your soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’
does this mean that Jesus and Mary’s sorrows both would bring out the thoughts of many people… Does this last sentence connects only Jesus or Mary as well for it says and a sword will pierce your soul (too) …
Ver. 35. And thy own soul a sword shall pierce. These words, which figuratively express the grief of the blessed Virgin mother, when present at the death of her Son, are to be taken by way of a parenthesis. — That out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed, and these are to be joined with what went before; to wit, that child shall be a sign of contradiction, set unto the fall and resurrection of many, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed and disclosed; when some shall believe, and others remain in their obstinacy. (Witham) — Ven. Bede, and many others, understand this of the sharp sorrow, which wounded the soul of the blessed Virgin Mary, at the time of Christ’s passion. (Barradius) — Carthusianus [Denis the Carthusian?] and Jansenius explain this passage as follows: Behold, this child is placed for a sign that shall be contradicted, which as a sword of most poignant grief will pierce thy soul, O Virgin! But Christ shall be contradicted, that the thoughts of the Jews may be revealed from many hearts, and it may appear who among them are good, and who are wicked and hypocrites. (Barradius)
Hi,
I was pondering on this verse myself today and decided to google it to see what others thought about it. I was sent to this forum and now find myself writting in a forum for the first (maybe second) time in my life…please bare with me.
"a sword will pierce your soul too"
These profetic words spoken by Simeon must refer to some great pain this blessed woman would have to endure because of her son.I can only imagine a women’s greatest sorrow to be that of loosing a child. A woman seeing her greatest treasure tortured to death right before her eyes would definetly feel as if hear heart and soul were torn apart (by a sword).
"so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare"
I have read luke 2:35 several times before but somehow I always ignored this part of the verse. As I read this verse today I was a bit shoked as I noticed this part of it for the first time. I even checked several bible translations to make sure I read it right. I did read it right. It’s always been here but its the first time I’ve noticed it. And I’m Amazed by it! The very first thought that came to my head as I read this verse today was “Oh Mary! Our most faithfull intercessor. Thank You!” It was throught his sorrowful passion that our Lord Jesus Christ reconciles us to our Father in Heaven and here our loving Mother Mary offers her son as the perfect sacrifice which would bring salvation to the world and along with it presents our intentions to the Father.
It is through His sacrifice offered to the Father that Jesus can obtain for us the grace of salvation. It is through her sharing and offering of such sacrifice that Mary can also offer our petitions to the Father and obtain for us many graces. She along with God offers the most worthy child so that the rest of us unworthy children may have life abundantly.
My interpretation of this may be completely wrong. Theologians outthere feel free to correct me on this.
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