See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory...
Christianity began in the eastern parts of the Roman Empire; and, to this day, our eastern Catholic brethren and sistren celebrate the Birth of Jesus today, January 6. The difference is twelve days, which at one time marked the full range of the Christian celebration.
Although most Americans have returned to their homes, desks and work stations; and Christmas 2018 has already faded into the past, it is good that we stop and celebrate the feast again with the Orthodox churches.
I am invariably struck by the darkness of this story even as I look for the light that shines in gloom. The treachery of King Herod is palpable. If Joseph is Matthew's ideal disciple because he hears the word of God and keeps it, Herod is the original hypocrite. His promise to pay homage to the mysterious infant should chill the minds and hearts of everyone who loves the Child.
The story of the Holy Family's escape to Egypt reminds us of our need for deliverance. The wise, intuitive and resourceful Joseph -- like his namesake in Genesis 37-50 -- obeys the Lord rather than men. He doesn't wait for some kind of outlandish miracle to rescue his wife and child from peril; prompted by the Holy Spirit and a dream he takes them into Egypt that very night!
As we consider our present distress -- a series of plagues as severe as those that afflicted Egypt -- we must feel the same helpless paralysis that Joseph felt. He heard the magi's report about King Herod and Jerusalem and his heart went cold. He might have been tempted to sleep on it until he realized the Holy Family must get out of Bethlehem immediately. Now!
He couldn't fight an army. A poor man, he had no well-placed connections in Jerusalem. He could only abandon his home, livelihood and reputation, like millions of refugees today, and flee to a safer place. He could migrate as millions of human beings have moved since the dawn of time. God would go with them and protect them even as he had traveled with Jacob's sons into Egypt and the survivors of Jerusalem into Babylon.
Facing the challenges of our time we're caught between two temptations: do nothing and hope for a miracle, or do something futile and violent.
Our Christian tradition gives a third option; we turn to God for deliverance. Our faith invites us to pray, listen and act. Salvation must come as it came to the Holy Family, but it will probably not be spectacular. It will having nothing to do with walls, neither their building or their collapse. We should know by now there are no technological, military, political or chemical solutions to these plagues. Our best efforts have only made them worse.
But there is the redeeming mercy of God. Every believer should retire to her room and pray for guidance; every believer must attend a church and ponder the inspiration of our scriptures with us.
The situation is dark, but our hope is brighter. It shines in darkness and cannot be overcome.
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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.