Lectionary: 10“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Isaac of Stella said of Mary and the Church:
In the inspired Scriptures, what is said in a universal sense of the virgin mother, the Church, is understood in an individual sense of the Virgin Mary, and what is said in a particular sense of the virgin mother Mary is rightly understood in a general sense of the virgin mother, the Church. When either is spoken of, the meaning can be understood of both, almost without qualification. (complete text)This is a great challenge when many people claim fellowship with Jesus but want nothing to do with his Church. They are like the Charles Schultz's philosophical Linus Van Pelt,who said, "I love mankind; it's people I can't stand."
In today's gospel we hear the story of Joseph taking Mary his wife into his home. To the young romantic this may sound wonderful, but we know it was for Joseph the beginning of a world of trouble. Not only was there a shadow cast upon her integrity, he would have to flee with her into Egypt, abandoning his livelihood, family and home for a long forced exile.
Joining the Church can also be less than intoxicating. If it is pleasant at first there will certainly come a moment when we realize "the honeymoon is over." The Church is, after all, just people. The best of us are only somewhat better than the worst. There are naifs among us, but few innocents.
A Christian should not entertain the notion that anyone can be saved, happy, content or satisfied in isolation. True, everyone should learn to enjoy the pleasure of one's own company. Fr. Juniper Cummings told me years ago, "You should be able to go to a movie, park or restaurant alone and enjoy it."
But that privilege is only part of the fullness of human life. We need others. There would be no humans on this earth at all if we did not support each other.
Mary welcomes each of us into the company of Jesus. She is the pure heart of the Church. Each of us will get to know him personally and each will have singular stories to tell about that relationship; but no one outside the Church will appreciate those stories. Without Mary there is no knowledge of Jesus. Her son is Our Savior.
As Joseph took her into his home he might have sang our refrain, "Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory!" for he knew she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
Joseph teaches us to love not the idea of "God" or "Jesus" or "Church;" but the real people with whom we live each day.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.