Rosaries

Archive for September, 2008

In those days Caesar Augustus published a decree ordering a census of the whole world. This first census took place with Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to register, each in his own town. So Joseph, too, went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, for he was of the house and lineage of David, to register with Mary, his espoused wife, who was pregnant. It happened while they were there that the days of her pregnancy were completed. She gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

There were shepherds in the same area, living in the fields and keeping watch over their flock. An angel of the Lord came suddenly upon them and the glory of the Holy One shone round them: “You have nothing to fear! I bring you good news, of great joy to be shared by the whole people. For this day in David’s city a savior has been born to you, who is Christ the Lord. Let this be the sign to you: you will find an infant wrapped in a swaddling clothes in a manger.

And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in high heaven and on earth peace to those on whom God’s favor rests.”

Luke 2: 1-14

God sneaks quietly into the world, welcomed by the obscure, the forgotten. A child, wrapped in ragged, poor cloths, laid in a manger, in a temporary shelter from the elements. There is a mixture of the stark reality of his birth: no room even in the place of travelers. His bed is manger; he is the bread of peace and food for justice, is born far away from home and surrounded not by family but by animals and shepherds, the lowly and shunned of society. The angels sing glory as God erupts into history and yet, it is the insignificant and meek who are first to hear the Good News, and their joy is the greatest. Our God comes to us poor, homeless, a refugee on the roads of occupied countries, in a nation humiliated, deemed without dignity by an arrogant ruler, anonymously with only a handful of shepherds and his poor parents, who look at him with awe and ponder who this child will grow up to be among his people. God’s sanctuary is within every human being now. This is the time now, for Mary to deliver her child, wrapping him in swaddling clothes, laying him in a manger, bringing God’s Word of peace into history.

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to God, as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to God.” They came to offer a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of God, “a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.”

There lived in Jerusalem at the time a certain man named Simeon. He was just and pious, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested upon him. It was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had seen God’s Anointed One. He came into the temple, inspired by the Spirit. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do the customary ritual of the law, Simeon received him in his arms and blessed God. “Now Master, you can let your servant go in peace; you have fulfilled your word. My eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared before all the nations: a light for revelation to the gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Simeon blessed them and spoke to the child’s mother, Mary. “This child is destined for falling and the rising of many in Israel. He will be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul, too.”

Luke Luke 2:22 – 35

Mary and Joseph live their lives in faithfulness and so they begin Jesus’ own public life with the ritual of consecrating him to God. This first visit of the holy family outside the confines of where they have been staying is to the temple in Jerusalem. Every first-born child, is “handed over” to God in thankfulness. The offering that Mary and Joseph give is that of the poor, who cannot afford to give a lamb. What is remarkable is that no priest recognizes this child; those who recognize him as the promise are those who have waited in obedience and hope that the Word of God, given to the people through the prophets, will one day be reality.

Mary and Joseph don’t know what to make of the Simeon’s glorious foresight. They allow deliriously happy Simeon to hold Jesus in his arms and burst into song and praise God. Joseph and Mary are just ordinary believers, obeying the precepts of the law, and in the community of believers they are given revelation. This child is the consolation of Israel, the servant of liberation and freedom. Simeon’s eyes see not just a newborn child wrapped in swaddling clothes, the child of a poor couple, just weeks old; he sees the Good News of God and boldly proclaims the gospel for all to hear and see with him.