Luke 2:19 (DRB)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

Luke 2:17 And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child.

Luke 2:18 And all that heard wondered: and at those things that were told them by the shepherds.

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

Luke 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Luke 2:21 And after eight days were accomplished, that the child should be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "mary", "kept", "words", "pondering", and "heart". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "mary" and "kept", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 18's "And all that heard wondered and at..." into verse 20's "And the shepherds returned glorifying and praising...", so "mary" and "kept" belong inside that flow. In Luke context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "mary" and "kept" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.