It was not through the law
that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants
that he would inherit the world,
but through the righteousness that comes from faith.
For this reason, it depends on faith,
so that it may be a gift,…
that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants
that he would inherit the world,
but through the righteousness that comes from faith.
For this reason, it depends on faith,
so that it may be a gift,…
Sometimes amateur theologians doubt Jesus’ claim to full
human fellowship because he was born of the Virgin Mary. They would say he is
not “like us in all things but sin” because he is not the son of a human male. That
is an interesting argument but it fails to give credence to the faith of the
evangelists. They and the early church recognized Jesus as fully human because
he is the son of Mary, and fully divine because he is virgin born of the Holy
Spirit. There were plenty of pagan myths about gods who appeared to be human. But
Jesus from his birth to his burial was obviously a man, vulnerable to cold,
hunger, sleeplessness and pain like every other human being. He received this
gift from his beloved mother. Because he was fully human, he could not strip
himself of his human body when it proved inconvenient, as a legendary god might
do.
Joseph gives Jesus lineage in the royal House of David and,
with it, the religious faith of “Abraham and his descendants.” With faith comes
the gift of righteousness; Joseph and Jesus were righteous men because of their
faith in God. That is no mean inheritance to give to the Son of Mary.
Recently the Church added to our Eucharistic prayers a
phrase, “with blessed Joseph her spouse.” I heard no particular reason given
for this adjustment to the most central prayer of the Catholic Church.
It may be a response to the crisis of marriage and parenting.
Too many children are being raised by single mothers and elderly grandparents.
Saint Joseph reminds fathers, “You have to be present to win!”
Presence requires a full commitment to the mother of your
children, meaning marriage with its vows of fidelity, loyalty, dependability
and devotion. Children have a right to grow up in the same house with their
biological parents, who demonstrate faith by their married love.
In the story of Saint Joseph, sketchy as it is, we learn of
a man who made enormous sacrifices for “the child and his mother.” (see Matthew
2:11,13,20,21) Not only did he set aside his misgivings about the conception of
her child, he abandoned his livelihood, connections and family in Bethlehem to take them
into Egypt, and then to Nazareth. For their sake Joseph became a homeless
exile, a political refugee among the millions who wander the earth.
In our time, when families are torn apart by economic forces,
political disruption, and the dubious search for personal satisfaction, Saint Joseph appears as one who silently
sacrificed everything for the sake of “the child and his mother.”
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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.