Why is this phrased repeated in the Bible?

[Jimmy_B]

http://stillanightowl.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/mary_baby_jesus.jpg

Why is this phrased repeated in the Bible?

“And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”
(Luke 2:19)

The above phrase is repeated numerous times in the Bible. Usually, when something is repeated in the Bible, it is repeated because, it is are important…right?

Do, any Protestant, non-Catholic Christians (or Catholics) here, have an opinion, as to why this phrase is repeated in the Bible?

Thank you, I look forward to your responses…

 

[Jimmy_B]

Actually, it was repeated at least twice, first in Luke 2:19 and then again in Luke 2:51…Still looking for the other similiar verses…

 

[Benadam]

The Gospels express the memory of the Church.

Luke 1
72 To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy testament,

13 Amen I say to you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which she hath done, shall be told for a memory of her.

Pope Benedict XVI writes in his book Jesus of Nazareth, It’s the memory of the Church where the true face of Christ is found. In the Gospel of John the author refers to his own remembrance but not just as his own but united to all the faithfull who remember his remembrance becomes the memory of the Church.

It is from the memory of the Church that Holy Spirit teaches.

John 14
26 But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you.

Today, Jesus is a contemporary of ours because the community that knew Him on earth 2000 yrs ago remembers Him today and still ponders all these things in her heart.

The Sacred Scriptures, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium express what the Church remembers. The Church draws deeeper and authentic understanding only because it draws from what is stored in her memory. It is the Church’s memory that properly disposes her to minister the Sacraments of Christ

Luke 22
19 And taking bread, he gave thanks, and brake; and gave to them, saying: This is my body, which is given for you. Do this for a commemoration of me.

The Church’s memor, which is a collective remembering that passes from generation to generation but does not suffer disunity because the Church’s memory, finds it’s origin in oneness and purity of Our Blessed Virigin Mother. Sacred Scripture Sacred Tradition and the Magisterial teaching that is founded on and found within, an authentic memory of Christ is one and the same thing that Mary held in her heart and pondered.

Luke 2
19 But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart.

In this way it is true that the Chuirch isn’t so much in the bible but the bible is in the Church.

Likewise the Rosary and it’s mysteries are not so much found in the bible as the bible is found within it.
The reason that this phrase is repeated is to express it’s continuance, it’s passing from one event remembered to the deeper understanding of that event as another is experienced. What we have is the Faith of the Church expressed by Our Lord’s Blessed Mother who we have recieved as our own. What Mary holds and ponders as she experiences the life of her divine son unfold is what we hold and the Holy Spirit brings to our mind to teach.

 

[StrawberryJam]

The Greek Orthodox church sings about Mary so often, it makes you wonder if catholics really care about her at all. The church I go to, has a very small possibly 20x12 brass wall hanging of Mary. No big focus going on there at all. But, at the divine liturgy in a Greek Orthodox church they repeated Holy Theotokos …etc and so on so many times, I could not even count them all! And she is on a huge icon and Jesus, and John the Baptist, and wow.

 

[Mike_Dye]

In our parish we have 3 statues and one picture honoring our Blessed Mother as well as several images of her in our stained glass windows. Plus we pray the rosary before each Mass in October and every Monday afternoon all year long:thumbsup:

 

[JonNC]

**
Why is this phrased repeated in the Bible?**

"And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart."
(Luke 2:19)

The above phrase is repeated numerous times in the Bible. Usually, when something is repeated in the Bible, it is repeated because, it is are important…right?

Do, any Protestant, non-Catholic Christians (or Catholics) here, have an opinion, as to why this phrase is repeated in the Bible?

Thank you, I look forward to your responses…

I think, on first blush, Jimmy, the writer is stating the obvious about a young human mother and the events that happen during the early days, weeks, months of her “first born’s” life.
More deeply, however, he may be wanting to emphasize not only Christ’s humanity, but also Mary’s small but growing understanding of what has just taken place, not only to her, but it’s implications for the future of her son and humankind.

Jon

 

[Jimmy_B]

[
](http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew11.htm)
Matthew 11:15%between%
15 Whoever has ears ought to hear
Matthew 13:9
9 Whoever has ears ought to hear http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew13.htm

This phrase -“Whoever has ears ought to hear” is another phase, which is repeated in the Bible.

I have read the entire Bible a few times and I never noticed these repetitive phrases, until I purchased the Bible on CD and listened to entire books at one sitting.

It was after, hearing the bible read that I notice these things and this is when I noticed that each writer had a different and unique writing style. Matthew was written in a different style than Mark and Mark, different from Luke.

I know one thing, if something is repeated; it is usually repeated because it is important.

Your thoughts?

 

[Hisalone]

This phrase -“Whoever has ears ought to hear” is another phase, which is repeated in the Bible.

I have read the entire Bible a few times and I never noticed these repetitive phrases, until I purchased the Bible on CD and listened to entire books at one sitting.

It was after, hearing the bible read that I notice these things and this is when I noticed that each writer had a different and unique writing style. Matthew was written in a different style than Mark and Mark, different from Luke.

I know one thing, if something is repeated; it is usually repeated because it is important.

Your thoughts?

Who do you think told Matthew of the early years?

 

[Jimmy_B]

Matthew 23:15, 23
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites

Luke 11:47
47 Woe to you! You build the memorials of the prophets whom your ancestors killed.

The phrase, “Woe to you” is another Phase repeated in the Bible. I have listed three examples above.

My point here being, that there are a few examples in the New Testament where things are repeated. The fact that the phrase, "And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her hear", inLuke 2:19 is one of those repeated phrases is, I believe, more evidence of Mary’s important role in Christian history.

I think the point that many Protestants miss, is that in addition to Mary’s role as the Mother of God, she was also a devoted disciple of Christ, as indicate in –

Luke 1:46,47, “And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”,

Acts 1:7-14, “He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. "When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”

And, Acts 2:1-4, “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.

Your thoughts?

 

[Hisalone]

Matthew 23:15, 23
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites

Luke 11:47
47 Woe to you! You build the memorials of the prophets whom your ancestors killed.

The phrase, “Woe to you” is another Phase repeated in the Bible. I have listed three examples above.

My point here being, that there are a few examples in the New Testament where things are repeated. The fact that the phrase, "And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her hear", inLuke 2:19 is one of those repeated phrases is, I believe, more evidence of Mary’s important role in Christian history.

I think the point that many Protestants miss, is that in addition to Mary’s role as the Mother of God, she was also a devoted disciple of Christ, as indicate in –

Luke 1:46,47, “And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”,

Acts 1:7-14, “He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. "When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”

And, Acts 2:1-4, “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.

Your thoughts?

Your reaching Jimmy.

Why wouldnt your soul proclaim the greatness of theLord?

 

[JonNC]

Your reaching Jimmy.

Why wouldnt your soul proclaim the greatness of theLord?

How is he reaching? Don’t you think Mary was one of great love and devotion to our Lord? From His birth, through His life, to the very foot of the Cross, and the rolled away stone, Mary, like perahps no one else was there.

Can we not recognize the incredible role she played in God’s plan for our salvation?

Jon

 

[Benadam]

This phrase -“Whoever has ears ought to hear” is another phase, which is repeated in the Bible.

I have read the entire Bible a few times and I never noticed these repetitive phrases, until I purchased the Bible on CD and listened to entire books at one sitting.

It was after, hearing the bible read that I notice these things and this is when I noticed that each writer had a different and unique writing style. Matthew was written in a different style than Mark and Mark, different from Luke.

I know one thing, if something is repeated; it is usually repeated because it is important.

Your thoughts?

Luke 8
18 Take heed therefore how you hear. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given: and whosoever hath not, that also which he thinketh he hath, shall be taken away from him.

An innocent heart see’s no evil. A guilty heart hears accusation when no accusation has been spoken.
Some hear themselves accused in words that were not even about them. The words teach the truth that resonates deply within them and unties the rationalizations that long ago enable the sin. Who is it that is accusing them? They will hear themselves accused and will think that they are the subject of the speaker, better they keep silent. If they address the speaker as someone accusing them falsley they will find that they were not even remotely in the speakers mind and that their sin has been exposed for all present to see. That person will be he who has not, that also which he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.

The person who has will be the person who is not accused by the words but who hear a good teaching that confirms their faith. Even if they are guilty but by Grace are contrite, their sin is exposed only to themselves.

What then do people have and get more? Have not and even what they think they have will be taken away? Grace.

 

[Hisalone]

How is he reaching? Don’t you think Mary was one of great love and devotion to our Lord? From His birth, through His life, to the very foot of the Cross, and the rolled away stone, Mary, like perahps no one else was there.

Can we not recognize the incredible role she played in God’s plan for our salvation?

Jon

Reflected in her heart those things she had seen and heard.

Mary pondered the miraculous birth and the visit of the shepherds and the celestial chiors.

Do you think when she spoke to the angel she thought this was how it was to be?
She had to wonder what was the meaning of this. Do not Christians who walk daily with Christ ponder those Devine appointments in their lives and reflect in their heart what the meaning may be?

Mary reflected in her heart those things Jesus said about being about His Fathers business and of teaching the scribes and pharasees in the temple.
Would you not posnder these things and wonder how God was going to play out the following acts(chapters) in the life of Jesus?

Catholics are taught to learn about and to study the lives of saints so to try to imitate them. Show me in the life of Mary where she accepted any undue honoror did not tell everyone to consider Jesus.

Mary was a woman of great faith perhaps no one in the entire bible had greater faith. Yet she was a human being nothing more. She is to be admired and imitated but our eyes must constantly be on Christ.

 

[Benadam]

Your reaching Jimmy.

Why wouldnt your soul proclaim the greatness of theLord?

Hisalone. For a soul to proclaim greatnss it must be manifesting greatness. Then the greatness that is manifest is not grasped as personal greatness but is proclaimed by the soul as coming from God because their faith is made known in their works.

I would say few can claim that. Mary was filled with the Holy Spirit when she spoke those words wasn’t she? The only way those words can be spoken with authenticity imo

 

[Hisalone]

Hisalone. For a soul to proclaim greatnss it must be manifesting greatness. Then the greatness that is manifest is not grasped as personal greatness but is proclaimed by the soul as coming from God because their faith is made known in their works.

I would say few can claim that. Mary was filled with the Holy Spirit when she spoke those words wasn’t she? The only way those words can be spoken with authenticity imo

Mary’s soul (mind, will and emotions) proclaimed the greatnes of God.
Any human can do the same if they so choose.

 

[Justy90]

Reflected in her heart those things she had seen and heard.

Mary pondered the miraculous birth and the visit of the shepherds and the celestial chiors.

Do you think when she spoke to the angel she thought this was how it was to be?
She had to wonder what was the meaning of this. Do not Christians who walk daily with Christ ponder those Devine appointments in their lives and reflect in their heart what the meaning may be?

Mary reflected in her heart those things Jesus said about being about His Fathers business and of teaching the scribes and pharasees in the temple.
Would you not posnder these things and wonder how God was going to play out the following acts(chapters) in the life of Jesus?

Catholics are taught to learn about and to study the lives of saints so to try to imitate them. Show me in the life of Mary where she accepted any undue honoror did not tell everyone to consider Jesus.

Mary was a woman of great faith perhaps no one in the entire bible had greater faith. Yet she was a human being nothing more. She is to be admired and imitated but our eyes must constantly be on Christ.

Very well put I must say.

Much of what is believed by Catholics regarding Mary starts out well inteded and in many cases very much in parallel with the Bible. For example when Catholics say that Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant, this is not an outrageous statement given the fact that Mary carried Christ who is the New Covenant in her womb. But, they seem to jump the tracks so to speak when they put a divine aura around it and attempt to expound upon it and its whole premise becomes this fanaticism which blurs the focus on Christ.

 

[JonNC]

=Hisalone;5860597]Reflected in her heart those things she had seen and heard.

Mary pondered the miraculous birth and the visit of the shepherds and the celestial chiors.

Do you think when she spoke to the angel she thought this was how it was to be?
She had to wonder what was the meaning of this. Do not Christians who walk daily with Christ ponder those Devine appointments in their lives and reflect in their heart what the meaning may be?

Mary reflected in her heart those things Jesus said about being about His Fathers business and of teaching the scribes and pharasees in the temple.
Would you not posnder these things and wonder how God was going to play out the following acts(chapters) in the life of Jesus?

I think I kind of said this in my first post to Jimmy.

Catholics are taught to learn about and to study the lives of saints so to try to imitate them. Show me in the life of Mary where she accepted any undue honor or did not tell everyone to consider Jesus.

Well, so was I. I was taught in Sunday School about many of the saints and martyrs. They are held up as models of the faith to be examples. This is not a good thing?
Well, the angel sure did honor her. And I think Catholics would tell us that that is what Mary does for them - poionts them to her son.

Mary was a woman of great faith perhaps no one in the entire bible had greater faith. Yet she was a human being nothing more. She is to be admired and imitated but our eyes must constantly be on Christ.

I certainly wouldn’t argue with this, but it seems to me that sometimes in our zeal to be not-Catholic, we sort of just ignore this woman of great(est) faith. We hurt only ourselves when we do this. Right under our collective Protestant noses is perhaps the greatest model of how faith and obedience (good works) are supposed to be related, as a result of Grace, and we often marginalize her to a once-a-year nativity piece. Our negligence is often far more questionable than their devotion.

Jon

 

[Hisalone]

I certainly wouldn’t argue with this, but it seems to me that sometimes in our zeal to be not-Catholic, we sort of just ignore this woman of great(est) faith. We hurt only ourselves when we do this. Right under our collective Protestant noses is perhaps the greatest model of how faith and obedience (good works) are supposed to be related, as a result of Grace, and we often marginalize her to a once-a-year nativity piece. Our negligence is often far more questionable than their devotion.

Jon

I dont have much to disagree with what you said except for this.
Many, many Catholics have sadly gone overboard in their devotion.

 

[JonNC]

I dont have much to disagree with what you said except for this.
Many, many Catholics have sadly gone overboard in their devotion.

I will let them speak to that.

Many, many non-catholics have sadly undervalued her role in God’s plan, and her example to us of the Godly life.

Jon

 

[Benadam]

Mary’s soul (mind, will and emotions) proclaimed the greatnes of God.
Any human can do the same if they so choose.

The Body must make visible God’s greatness because what is proclaiming divine greatness is not (visible). If the bodies principle of life is proclaiming divine greatness it will by necessity be making it visible. Divine greatness being divine is not corruptable. Whether proclaimed by His Word or a human soul if it is corrupt it is not divine.